'Well, Aunt Kitty, if oppression maddens the wise, what must it do to
the foolish?'

'If you only allow that it was foolish--'

'No; I had rather know whether it was wrong. I believe I was too
eager, and not respectful enough to the old squire: and, on
reflection, it might have been a matter of obedience to my father,
not to interfere with the prejudices of true-born English
magistrates. Yes, I was wrong: I would have owned it sooner, but for
the shell he fired over my head. And for the rest, I don't know how
to repent of having protested against tyranny.'

There was something redeeming in the conclusion, and it was a
comfort, for it was impossible to retain anger with one so gently,
good-humouredly polite and attentive.

A practical answer to the champion was not long in coming. He
volunteered the next day to walk to Northwold with Mrs. Frost and
Mary, who wanted to spend the morning in selecting a house in Dynevor
Terrace, and to be fetched home by-and-by, when Mrs. Ponsonby took
her airing. Two miles seemed nothing to Aunt Catharine, who accepted
her nephew's arm for love, and not for need, as he discoursed of all
the animals that might be naturalized in England, obtained from Mary
an account of the llamas of the Andes, and rode off upon a scheme of
an importation to make the fortune of Marksedge by a manufacture of
Alpaca umbrellas.

Meantime, he must show the beautiful American ducks which he hoped to
naturalize on the pond near the keeper's lodge: but, whistle and call