“He said it as if he were rather pleased to have a chance to growl at me. You see the English are not popular in Washington—”
“That is to their everlasting credit,” April broke in warmly. “They are all friends of the Confederacy.”
“That is what Mr. Stanton was thinking,” Dorothea went on, nodding her head wisely. “Father had warned me that there might be trouble. The Secretary, of course, didn’t want to offend the English if he could help it, and I didn’t mean to be put off so easily.
“‘Surely you could let me have a pass, sir, couldn’t you?’ I pleaded.
“‘I could—but I won’t,’ he answered gruffly.
“‘My father thought you might take his position somewhat into consideration,’ I suggested meekly.
“‘Then he should have written to Seward!’ the Secretary of War snapped out angrily. ‘I am not one of those who think it would do any good to our cause to favor the English.’
“‘But the Drummonds are Scots, sir,’ I reminded him, at which he threw up his head like a restive horse.
“‘It is the same thing,’ he cried.
“‘Ye’ll nae find a Scotsman agreein’ wi’ ye in that, Mr. Secretary,’ I retorted, for you know we are not English and it annoys us to have people think we are.