Christopher Dillon to make all that come in contact with
him excessively uncomfortable."
"And what has Kit to do with the detention of the men?"
"What! why, has he not undertaken to stand godfather to their prisons?--
by a woman's patience, I think, Colonel Howard, this business will gain
a pretty addition to the names of St. Ruth. It is already called a
house, an abbey, a place, and by some a castle; let Mr. Dillon have his
way for a month, and it will add jail to the number."
"Kit is not so happy as to possess the favor of Miss Plowden; but still
Kit is a worthy fellow, and a good fellow, and a sensible fellow; ay!
and what is of more value than all these put together, Miss Katherine,
Mr. Christopher Dillon is a faithful and loyal subject to his prince.
His mother was my cousin-german, madam, and I cannot say how soon I may
call him my nephew. The Dillons are of good Irish extraction, and I
believe that even Miss Plowden will admit that the Howards have some
pretensions to a name."
"Ah! it is those very things called names that I most allude to," said
Katherine, quickly, "But an hour since you were indignant, my dear
guardian, because you suspected that I insinuated you ought to write
jailer behind the name of Howard, and even now you submit to have the
office palmed upon you."
"You forget, Miss Katherine Plowden, that it is the pleasure of one of
his majesty's officers to detain these men."
"But I thought that the glorious British constitution, which you so
often mention," interrupted the young lady, spiritedly, "gives liberty
to all who touch these blessed shores; you know, sir, that out of twenty
blacks that you brought with you, how few remain; the rest having fled
on the wings of the spirit of British liberty!"
This was touching a festering sore in the colonel's feelings, and his
provoking ward well knew the effects her observation was likely to
produce.
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