grandfather's giving in. British ground here! But your Ascendant cannot
surely be in such malignant conjunction with that obstreperous tyrant as
to bind you to him hand and foot. Let's see what the crystal thinks of
it. 'Take it up gently, and come downstairs with me."

"Please, no; I'll stay near Grandfather," said Sophy, resolutely. "He
sha'n't be left helpless with that rude man."

The Cobbler could not help smiling. "Lord love you," said he; "you have
a spirit of your own, and if you were my wife I should be afraid of you.
But I won't stand here eavesdropping; mayhap your grandfather has secrets
I'm not to hear: call me if I'm wanted." He descended. Sophy, with less
noble disdain of eavesdropping, stood in the centre of the room, holding
her breath to listen. She heard no sound; she had half a mind to put her
ear to the keyhole, but that seemed even to her a mean thing, if not
absolutely required by the necessity of the case. So there she still
stood, her head bent down, her finger raised: oh, that Vance could have
so painted her!




CHAPTER X.

Showing the causes why men and nations, when one man or nation
wishes to get for its own arbitrary purposes what the other man or
nation does not desire to part with, are apt to ignore the mild
precepts of Christianity, shock the sentiments and upset the
theories of Peace Societies.