"The people to drive you out." She laughed softly.
"We will not be driven out."
"Are you as strong as that?"
"Mam'selle, we have conquered the English from Maine to the Carolinas, and to the Mississippi river. We shall do all the rest sometime."
"I think I shall be an American. I like people who are strong and can never be beaten."
"Of course you will have to be an American. And you must learn to speak English well."
"Monsieur," with much dignity, "if you are so grand why do you not have a language of your own?"
"Because"—he was about to say—"we were English in the beginning," but the sharp, satirical curves lurking around her mouth checked him. What an odd, piquant creature she was!
"Come away," and Pani pulled her hand. "You talk too much to people and make M'sieu idle."
"O Pani!" She gave an exultant cry and sprang away, then stopped short. For it was not only her friend, but a number of gentlemen in military attire and mounted on horses with gay trappings.