Дванадцять років рабства

           AddressingMr.Northup,hesworeifhehadonlyhadanhour’snoticeofhiscoming,hewouldhavesavedhimthetroubleoftakingmebacktoNew-York;thathewouldhaverunmeintotheswamp,orsomeotherplaceoutoftheway,whereallthesheriffsonearthcouldn’thavefoundme. 

           Iwalkedoutintotheyard,andwasenteringthekitchendoor,whensomethingstruckmeintheback. AuntPhebe,emergingfromthebackdoorofthegreathousewithapanofpotatoes,hadthrownoneofthemwithunnecessaryviolence,therebygivingmetounderstandthatshewishedtospeaktomeamomentconfidentially. Runninguptome,shewhisperedinmyearwithgreatearnestness, 

           "Lora’mity,Platt!whatd’yethink? Demtwomencomeafterye. Heard’emtellmassayoufree—gotwifeandtreechildrenbacktharwharyoucomefrom. Goin’wid’em? Foolifyedon’t—wishIcouldgo,"andAuntPheberanoninthismanneratarapidrate. 

           PresentlyMistressEppsmadeherappearanceinthekitchen. Shesaidmanythingstome,andwonderedwhyIhadnottoldherwhoIwas. Sheexpressedherregret,complimentingmebysayingshehadratherloseanyotherservantontheplantation. HadPatseythatdaystoodinmyplace,themeasureofmymistress’joywouldhaveoverflowed. Nowtherewasnooneleftwhocouldmendachairorapieceoffurniture—noonewhowasofanyuseaboutthehouse—noonewhocouldplayforherontheviolin—andMistressEppswasactuallyaffectedtotears.