‘Nor is it so easy, mademoiselle, where a whole population befriend and feel for him.’
‘And if they do, with what face can you persecute what has the entire sympathy of a nation?’
‘Don’t provoke answers which are sure not to satisfy you, and which you could but half comprehend; but tell Mr. Curtis you will use your influence to make Mr. Walpole forget this mishap.’
‘But I do want to go to the bottom of this question. I will insist on learning why people rebel here.’
‘In that case, I’ll go home to breakfast, and I’ll be quite satisfied if I see you at luncheon,’ said Kate.
‘Do, pray, Mr. Curtis, tell me all about it. Why do some people shoot the others who are just as much Irish as themselves? Why do hungry people kill the cattle and never eat them? And why don’t the English go away and leave a country where nobody likes them? If there be a reason for these things, let me hear it.’
‘Bye-bye,’ said Kate, waving her hand, as she turned away.
‘You are so ungenerous,’ cried Nina, hurrying after her; ‘I am a stranger, and would naturally like to learn all that I could of the country and the people; here is a gentleman full of the very knowledge I am seeking. He knows all about these terrible Fenians. What will they do with Donogan if they take him?’
‘Transport him for life; they’ll not hang him, I think.’
‘That’s worse than hanging. I mean—that is—Miss Kearney would rather they’d hang him.’