To-night he was neither very logical nor very reasonable, and Mr Foster complained at last.
“But, Norman, you don’t keep to the point.”
“Talks all round the lot,” said Mr Snow.
“I’m afraid that is not confined to Norman,” said Mr Greenleaf.
“Norman is right, anyway,” pronounced Menie.
“He reasons in a circle,” said the master. “And because slavery is the only flaw in—”
“The only flaw!” said Norman, with awful irony.
“Well, yes,” interposed Mr Snow. “But we have had enough of the Constitution for to-night. Let’s look at our country. It can’t be beaten any way you take it. Physically or morally,” pursued he, with great gravity, “it can’t be beaten. There are no such mountains, rivers, nor lakes as ours are. Our laws and our institutions generally are just about what they ought to see. Even foreigners see that, and prove it, by coming to share our privileges. Where will you find such a general diffusion of knowledge among all classes? Classes? There is only one class. All are free and equal.”
“Folk thinking themselves equal doesna make them equal,” said Mrs Nasmyth, to whom the last remark had been addressed. “For my part, I never saw pride—really to call pride—till I saw it in this fine country o’ yours—ilka ane thinking himself as good as his neighbour.”
“Well—so they be. Liberty and equality is our ticket.”