bear my share of the penalty of all that immaculate England has
done. But I do not fear the fate of Spain for England:

'That royal throne of kings, that sceptred isle,
That earth of majesty, that seat of Mars,
That other Eden, demi-paradise;
That fortress, built by nature for herself,
Against infection, and the hand of war;
That happy breed of men, that little world;
That precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands.'

England against the world!" he exclaimed breaking off his quotation,
in his enthusiasm, and laying his hand on his sword.

"You are certainly a patriot," said Lady Mabel, "if any amount of
national prejudice can make patriotism. But yours is very like the
cockney's, who despised all the world, beyond the sound of Bow bells.
As to the fortress isle. (_Let me warn you to keep it well garrisoned
against surprise_.) I believe there is an obscure little corner of it
called Scotland, which both you and the poet have forgotten."

"I merely used _England_ in a figure of speech," said L'Isle, "putting
a part for the whole."

"I will not tolerate your figure of speech, as disparaging to old
Scotland," she said. "But for us Scots--"