Volume I Part 74 (1/2)
”Why, a great deal of honour to the army and the nation at large.”
”Honour again! But granting that the army gained it, which they certainly did, for one I do not feel very proud of the nation's share.”
”Why, they are one,” said Charlton, impatiently.
”In an unjust war?”
”It was _not_ an unjust war.”
”That's what you call a knock-downer,” said Fleda, laughing.
”But I confess myself so simple as to have agreed with Seth Plumfield, when I heard him and Lucas disputing about it last winter, that it was a shame to a great and strong nation like ours to display its might in crus.h.i.+ng a weak one.”
”But they drew it upon themselves. _They_ began hostilities.”
”There is a diversity of opinion about that.”
”Not in heads that have two grains of information.”
”I beg your pardon. Mrs. Evelyn and Judge Sensible were talking over that very question the other day at Montepoole; and he made it quite clear to my mind that we were the aggressors.”
”Judge Sensible is a fool!” said Mr. Rossitur.
”Very well!” said Fleda, laughing; ? ”but as I do not wish to be comprehended in the same cla.s.s, will you show me how he was wrong, uncle?”
This drew on a discussion of some length, to which Fleda listened with profound attention, long after her aunt had ceased to listen at all, and Hugh was thoughtful, and Charlton disgusted. At the end of it, Mr. Rossitur left the table and the room, and Fleda subsiding, turned to her cold coffee-cup.
”I didn't know you ever cared anything about politics before,”
said Hugh.
”Didn't you?” said Fleda, smiling. ”You do me injustice.”
Their eyes met for a second, with a most appreciating smile on his part; and then he too went off to his work. There was a few minutes' silent pause after that.
”Mother,” said Charlton, looking up and bursting forth, ”what is all this about the mill and the farm? ? is not the farm doing well?”
”I am afraid not very well,” said Mrs. Rossitur, gently.
”What is the difficulty?”
”Why, your father has let it to a man by the name of Didenhover, and I am afraid he is not faithful; it does not seem to bring us in what it ought.”
”What did he do that for?”
”He was wearied with the annoyances he had to endure before, and thought it would be better and more profitable to have somebody else take the whole charge and management. He did not know Didenhover's character at the time.”
”Engaged him without knowing him!”
Fleda was the only third party present, and Charlton unwittingly allowing himself to meet her eye, received a look of keen displeasure that he was not prepared for.