Дванадцять років рабства

           Shehadagenialandpleasanttemper,andwasfaithfulandobedient. Naturally,shewasajoyouscreature,alaughing,light-heartedgirl,rejoicinginthemeresenseofexistence. YetPatseyweptoftener,andsufferedmore,thananyofhercompanions. Shehadbeenliterallyexcoriated. Herbackborethescarsofathousandstripes;notbecauseshewasbackwardinherwork,norbecauseshewasofanunmindfulandrebelliousspirit,butbecauseithadfallentoherlottobetheslaveofalicentiousmasterandajealousmistress. Sheshrankbeforethelustfuleyeoftheone,andwasindangerevenofherlifeatthehandsoftheother,andbetweenthetwo,shewasindeedaccursed. Inthegreathouse,fordaystogether,therewerehighandangrywords,poutingsandestrangement,whereofshewastheinnocentcause. Nothingdelightedthemistresssomuchastoseehersuffer,andmorethanonce,whenEppshadrefusedtosellher,hasshetemptedmewithbribestoputhersecretlytodeath,andburyherbodyinsomelonelyplaceinthemarginoftheswamp. GladlywouldPatseyhaveappeasedthisunforgivingspirit,ifithadbeeninherpower,butnotlikeJoseph,daredsheescapefromMasterEpps,leavinghergarmentinhishand. Patseywalkedunderacloud. Ifsheutteredawordinoppositiontohermaster’swill,thelashwasresortedtoatonce,tobringhertosubjection;ifshewasnotwatchfulwhenabouthercabin,orwhenwalkingintheyard,abilletofwood,orabrokenbottleperhaps,hurledfromhermistress’hand,wouldsmiteherunexpectedlyintheface. Theenslavedvictimoflustandhate,Patseyhadnocomfortofherlife.