“How did you like it?”
“Why, I thought they was fools!”
“Well, then, you should see what is thought of an American who goes abroad and proclaims himself boastfully everywhere. He makes a fool of himself, just as the boasting Englishman in America does.”
“B’gosh! I never thought uv that.”
“You see that it is true?”
“Wal,” drawled Ephraim, rather reluctantly, “I s’pose it is.”
“It is, certainly. It would be well for the American if he would learn a little reserve from his English cousin. There is a beautiful trick of keeping one’s mouth closed.”
Ephraim thought this over a minute, and then he burst out:
“That’s all right; but when I’m asked ef I’m English, I’m goin’ to say, ‘Not by a dern sight! I’m Yankee clean to the bone, an’ don’t ye forgit it!’ Ef Frank Merriwell had said he was English when they asked him——Oh, say! it’s no use to talk abaout that! I know Frank! He’s got Yankee Doodle and Hail Columby blood runnin’ in ev’ry vein.”
“But we are in a country that entertains a hostile feeling toward the United States just at present, and the people here are very fiery-tempered and dangerous. There is such a thing as diplomacy, and——”