"Nothing against us, on a fair construction," said Fleda, patiently. "It is well known, to those who understand the subject"
"Where did you learn so much about it, Fleda?" said Mrs.
Evelyn, humourously.
"As the birds pick up their supplies, Ma'am here and there. It is well known, Mr. Stackpole, that our constitution never could have been agreed upon, if that question of slavery had not been, by common consent, left where it was with the separate state governments."
"The separate state governments! well, why do not they put an end to it? The disgrace is only shifted."
"Of course, they must first have the consent of the public mind of those states."
"Ah! their consent! and why is their consent wanting?"
"We cannot defend ourselves there," said Mrs. Evelyn. "I wish we could."
"The disgrace, at least, is shifted from the whole to a part. But will you permit me," said Fleda, "to give another quotation from my despised authority, and remind you of an Englishman's testimony, that beyond a doubt that point of emancipation would never have been carried in parliament had the interests of even a part of the electors been concerned in it!"
"It was done, however, and done at the expense of twenty millions of money."
"And I am sure that was very noble," said Florence.