"Take care, Catherine," said Mr. Lindsay, laughing, "you are touching Ellen's nationality; look here," said he, drawing his fingers down her cheek.
"She must learn to have no nationality but yours," said Lady
Keith, somewhat shortly.
Ellen's lips were open, but she spoke not.
"It is well you have come out from the Americans, you see,
Ellen," pursued Mr. Lindsay; "your aunt does not like them."
"But why, Sir?"
"Why," said he, gravely, "don't you know that they are a parcel of rebels who have broken loose from all loyalty and fealty, that no good Briton has any business to like?"
"You are not in earnest, uncle?"
"You are, I see," said he, looking amused. "Are you one of those that make a saint of George Washington?"
"No," said Ellen, "I think he was a great deal better than some saints. But I don't think the Americans were rebels."
"You are a little rebel yourself. Do you mean to say you think the Americans were right?"