Bought Freedom

How does Linda finally attain her freedom? Why does she have mixed emotions about this at the end of the book?

Her friend Mrs. Bruce buys her from her mistress' husband, then sets her free. She has mixed feelings about this because she believes that freedom is a right, not something that can be bought. She feels a little insulted that she could be bought and traded and sold like a piece of property, especially in a 'free' state like New York. It's also a little upsetting that her friend, the kind and helpful Mrs. Bruce, can just buy her as well. Not just bad people buy and trade in slaves. Mrs. Bruce also bought her without really talking to her about it first. So Linda also feels more like a piece of property without a say in her own freedom, even though Mrs. Bruce had the best of intentions and actually did free her. Despite all this, though, she still is glad to be free, and thankful to Mrs. Bruce for buying and freeing her.