"That is not reason enough for so reasonable a person as you are, Ellen; you must try again, or give up your preference."
"I like Bruce very much indeed," said Ellen musingly; "but he did what he did for himself Washington didn't."
"Humph! I am not quite sure as to either of your positions," said Mr. Lindsay.
"And besides," said Ellen, "Bruce did one or two wrong things.
Washington always did right."
"He did? eh? What do you think of the murder of André?"
"I think it was right," said Ellen, firmly.
"Your reasons, my little reasoner?"
"If it had not been right, Washington would not have done it."
"Ha!, ha! So at that rate you may reconcile yourself to anything that chances to be done by a favourite."
"No, Sir," said Ellen, a little confused, but standing her ground; "but when a person always does right, if he happen to do something that I don't know enough to understand, I have good reason to think it is right, even though I cannot understand it."