"Our last subject. Now, let me see, what was that?"
"It was the question of the propriety of—"
"Fish, sir?" said a gentle voice in Reed's ear. He groaned and helped himself largely and in silence.
Lefferts, who was really kind-hearted, pitied his distress and decided to change the topic.
"What a fine old house this is," he said, glancing around the high-ceilinged room. "Who does it belong to?"
"It belongs," answered Tucker, "to a family named Revelly—a family who held a highly honored position in the history of our country until they took the wrong side in war."
"In this part of the country, sir," cried Reed, "we are not accustomed to thinking it the wrong side."
Tucker bowed slightly.
"I believe that I am voicing the verdict of history and time," he answered.
It was in remorse, perhaps, for having stirred up this new subject of dispute that Lefferts now went on rapidly, too rapidly to feel his way.