of Miss Smith’s stern high-mindedness, but her heart hardened at this, to her, misdirected zeal. Echo of the spirit of an older day, Miss Smith seemed, to her, to be cramped and paralyzed in an armor of prejudice and sectionalisms. Plain-speaking was the only course, and Mary, if a little complacent perhaps in her frankness, was sincere in her purpose.
‚ÄúI think, Miss Smith, you are making a very grave mistake. I regard Zora as a very undesirable person from every point of view. I look upon Mr. ¬ÝCresswell‚Äôs visit today as almost providential. He came offering an olive branch from the white aristocracy to this work; to bespeak his appreciation and safeguard the future. Moreover,‚Äù and Miss Taylor‚Äôs voice gathered firmness despite Miss Smith‚Äôs inscrutable eye, ‚Äúmoreover, I have reason to know that the disposition‚ÅÝ‚Äîindeed, the plan‚ÅÝ‚Äîin certain quarters to help this work materially depends very largely on your willingness to meet the advances of the Southern whites halfway.‚Äù