it is said that she has taken the management of the plantation into her own hands down to the smallest detail , that she rides the fields with her overseer - stefan , no one is held in more contempt than these overseers - and that she knows the names of all her slaves she spares nothing to provide them with food and with drink and so binds them to her with extraordinary loyalty , and she inspects their houses , and dotes upon their children , and looks into the souls of the accused before meting punishment .