“I do, sir, most decidedly,” he answered.
“I should hardly expect a conservative Bostonian, of the class which respects property, to have said that. It might possibly be a good thing if more from your town could hear those debates.”
“They will read them, sir; I feel confident of it.”
At this point the Colonel could contain himself no longer.
“I reckon I might tell the man who wrote that Democrat article a few things, if I could find out who he is,” said he.
“Pa!” said Virginia, warningly.
But Stephen had turned a fiery red, “I wrote it, Colonel Carvel,” he said.
For a dubious instant of silence Colonel Carvel stared. Then—then he slapped his knees, broke into a storm of laughter, and went out of the room. He left Stephen in a moist state of discomfiture.
The Judge had bolted upright from the pillows.
“You have been neglecting your law, sir,” he cried.