"Of course, they must first have the consent of the public mind of those states."

"Ah! their consent! and why is their consent wanting?"

"We cannot defend ourselves there," said Mrs. Evelyn. "I wish we could."

"The disgrace, at least, is shifted from the whole to a part. But will you permit me," said Fleda; "to give another quotation from my despised authority, and remind you of an Englishman's testimony, that beyond a doubt that point of emancipation would never have been carried in parliament had the interests of even a part of the electors been concerned in it !"

"It was done, however, and done at the expense of twenty millions of money."

"And I am sure that was very noble," said Florence.

"It was what no nation but the English would ever have done," said Mrs. Evelyn.

"I do not wish to dispute it," said Fleda; "but still it was doing what did not touch the sensitive point of their own wellbeing."

"We think there is a little national honour concerned in it," said Mr. Stackpole, drily, stroking his chin again.

"So does every right-minded person," said Mrs. Evelyn. “I am sure I do."

"And I am sure so do I," said Fleda; "but I think the honour of a piece of generosity is considerably lessened by the fact that it is done at the expense of another."

"Generosity!" said Mr. Stackpole; "it was not generosity, it was justice-there was no generosity about it."

"Then it deserves no honour at all," said Fleda, "if it was merely that; the tardy execution of justice is but the removal of a reproach."

"We Englishmen are of opinion, however," said Mr. Stackpole, contentedly, "that the removers of a reproach are entitled to some honour, which those who persist in retaining it cannot claim."

"Yes," said Fleda, drawing rather a long breath, “I acknowledge that; but I think that, while some of these same Englishman have shown themselves so unwilling to have the condition of their own factory slaves ameliorated, they should be very gentle in speaking of wrongs which we have far less ability to rectify."

"Ah! I like consistency," said Mr. Stackpole. "America shouldn't dress up poles with liberty caps, till all who walk under are free to wear them. She cannot boast that the breath of her air and the breath of freedom are one."

"Can England?" said Fleda, gently-" when her own citizens are not free from the horrors of impressment?"

"Pshaw !" said Mr. Stackpole, half in a pet and half laughing; "why where did you get such a fury against England? you are the first fair antagonist I have met on this side of the water."

"I wish I was a better one, sir," said Fleda laughing.

"Miss Ringgan has been prejudiced by an acquaintance with one or two unfortunate specimens," said Mrs. Evelyn.

'Ay!" said Mr. Stackpole, a little bitterly; "America is the natural birthplace of prejudice—always was."

"Displayed, first, in maintaining the rights against the swords of Englishmen; latterly, how, Mr. Stackpole?”

"It isn't necessary to enlighten you on any part of the subject," said he, a little pointedly.

"Fleda, my dear, you are answered," said Mrs. Evelyn, apparently with great internal amusement.

66 Yet you will indulge me so far as to indicate what part of the subject you are upon ?" said Fleda, quietly.

"You must grant so much as that to so gentle a requisition, Mr. Stackpole," said the older lady.

"I venture to assume that you do not say that on your own account, Mrs. Evelyn."

66

Not at all-I agree with you, that Americans are prejudiced; but I think it will pass off, Mr. Stackpole, as they learn to know themselves and other countries better."

"But how do they deserve such a charge and such a defence? or how have they deserved it ?" said Fleda.

"Tell her, Mr. Stackpole," said Mrs. Evelyn.

"Why," said Mr. Stackpole, "in their absurd opposition to all the old and tried forms of things, and rancorous dislike of those who uphold them; and in their pertinacity on every point where they might be set right, and impatience of hearing the truth." Are they singular in that last item?" said Fleda.

66

Now," said Mr. Stackpole, not heeding her, "there's your treatment of the aborigines of this country-what do you call that, for a free people?"

"A powder magazine, communicating with a great one of your own somewhere else; so, if you are a good subject, sir, you will not carry a lighted candle into it."

"One of our own-where?" said he.

"In India," said Fleda, with a glance-" and there are I don't know how many trains leading to it—so, better hands off, sir."

66 Where did you pick up such a spite against us ?" said Mr. Stackpole, drawing a little back and eyeing her as one would a

belligerent mouse or cricket. "Will you tell me now that Americans are not prejudiced ?”

"What do you call prejudice ?" said Fleda, smiling.

"Oh, there is a great deal of it, no doubt, here, Mr. Stackpole," said Mrs. Evelyn, blandly; "but we shall grow out of it in time; it is only the premature wisdom of a young people."

"And young people never like to hear their wisdom rebuked," said Mr. Stackpole, bowing.

"Fleda, my dear, what for is that little significant shake of your head?" said Mrs. Evelyn, in her amused voice.

"A trifle, ma'am."

"Covers a hidden rebuke, Mrs. Evelyn, I have no doubt, for both our last remarks. What is it, Miss Fleda?-I dare say

we can bear it."

"I was thinking, sir, that none would trouble themselves much about our foolscap if we had not once made them wear it."

"Mr. Stackpole, you are worsted!-I only wish Mr. Carleton had been here!" said Mrs. Evelyn, with a face of excessive delight.

"I wish he had," said Fleda, "for then I need not have spoken a word.”

"Why," said Mr. Stackpole, a little irritated, "you suppose he would have fought for you against me?"

66 I suppose he would have fought for truth against anybody, sir," said Fleda.

66

Even against his own interests ?"

"If I am not mistaken in him," said Fleda, "he reckons his own and those of truth identical."

The shout that was raised at this by all the ladies of the family made her look up in wonderment.

"Mr. Carleton," said Mrs. Evelyn, "what do you say to that, sir ?"

The direction of the lady's eye made Fleda spring up and face about. The gentleman in question was standing quietly at the back of her chair-too quietly, she saw, to leave any doubt of his having been there some time. Mr. Stackpole uttered an ejaculation, but Fleda stood absolutely motionless, and nothing could be prettier than her colour.

"What do you say to what you have heard, Mr. Carleton ?” said Mrs. Evelyn.

Fleda's eyes were on the floor, but she thoroughly appreciated the tone of the question.

"I hardly know whether I have listened with most pleasure or pain, Mrs. Evelyn."

"Pleasure!" said Constance.

"Pain!" said Mr. Stackpole.

"I am certain Miss Ringgan was pure from any intention of giving pain," said Mrs. Evelyn, with her voice of contained fun. "She has no national antipathies, I am sure—unless in the case of the Jews-she is too charming a girl for that.”

"Miss Ringgan cannot regret less than I a word that she has spoken," said Mr. Carleton, looking keenly at her as she drew back and took a seat a little off from the rest.

“Then why was the pain ?” said Mr. Stackpole.

"That there should have been any occasion for them, sir." 66 'Well, I wasn't sensible of the occasion, so I didn't feel the pain,” said Mr. Stackpole, drily—for the other gentleman's tone was almost haughtily significant. "But if I had, the pleasure of such sparkling eyes would have made me forget it. Good evening, Mrs. Evelyn-good evening, my gentle antagonist-it seems to me you have learned, if it is permissible to alter one of your favourite proverbs, that it is possible to break two windows with one stone. However, I don't feel that I go away with any of mine shattered."

"Fleda, my dear," said Mrs. Evelyn, laughing, "what do you say to that?"

"As he is not here, I will say nothing to it, Mrs. Evelyn," said Fleda, quietly drawing off to the table with her work, and again in a tremor from head to foot.

"Why, didn't you see Mr. Carleton come in?" said Edith, following her; "I did he came in long before you had done talking, and mamma held up her finger and made him stop; and he stood at the back of your chair the whole time listening. Mr. Stackpole didn't know he was there either. But what's the

matter with you?"

66

Nothing," said Fleda; but she made her escape out of the room the next instant.

66

Mamma," said Edith, "what ails Fleda?"

"I don't know, my love," said Mrs. Evelyn. "Nothing, I hope."

There does, though," said Edith, decidedly.

"Come here, Edith," said Constance, "and don't meddle with matters above your comprehension. Miss Ringgan has probably hurt her hand with throwing stones."

"Hurt her hand!" said Edith. But she was taken possession of by her eldest sister.

"That is a lovely girl, Mr. Carleton," said Mrs. Evelyn, with an indescribable look-outwardly benign, but beneath that most keen in its scrutiny.

He bowed rather abstractedly,

D D

"She will make a charming little farmer's wife-don't you' think so?"

"Is that her lot, Mrs. Evelyn ?" he said, with a somewhat incredulous smile.

"Why, no-not precisely," said the lady; "you know, in the country, or you do not know, the ministers are half farmers, but I suppose not more than half; just such a mixture as will suit Fleda, I should think. She has not told me in so many words, but it is easy to read so ingenuous a nature as hers, and I have discovered that there is a most deserving young friend of mine settled at Queechy that she is by no means indifferent to. I take it for granted that will be the end of it," said Mrs. Evelyn, pinching her sofa cushion in a great many successive places, with a most composed and satisfied air.

But Mr. Carleton did not seem at all interested in the subject, and presently introduced another.

CHAPTER XXXV.

"It is a hard matter for friends to meet: but mountains may be removed with earthquakes, and so encounter."-As You Like It.

"WHAT have we to do to-night?" said Florence, at breakfast the next morning.

"You have no engagement, have you?" said her mother.

"No, mamma," said Constance, arching her eyebrows-" we are to taste the sweets of domestic life-you, as head of the family, will go to sleep in the dormeuse, and Florence and I shall take turn in yawning by your side."

"And what will Fleda do?" said Mrs. Evelyn, laughing.

"Fleda, mamma, will be wrapped in remorseful recollections of having enacted a mob last evening, and have enough occupation in considering how she shall repair damages."

"Fleda, my dear, she is very saucy," said Mrs. Evelyn, sipping her tea with great comfort.

Why should we yawn to-night any more than last night?" said Fleda—a question which Edith would certainly have asked if she had not been away at school. The breakfast was too late for both her and her father.

"Last night, my dear, your fractious disposition kept us upon half breath; there wasn't time to yawn. I meant to have eased my breast by laughing afterwards, but that expectation was stifled."