a land of liberty, if he might dispel the darkness of
old-world prejudice in which his friends were enveloped. Mr Snow was
ready too with his hints about "despotism" and "aristocracy," and on
such occasions the lads never failed to throw themselves headlong into
the thick of the battle, with a fierce desire to demolish things in
general, and Yankee institutions in particular. It is to be feared the
disputants were not always very consistent in the arguments they used;
but their earnestness made up for their bad logic, and the hot words
spoken on both sides were never remembered when the morrow came.

A chance word of the master's had set them all at it, one night when Mr
Snow came in; and books and slates were forgotten in the eagerness of
the dispute. The lads were in danger of forgetting the respect due to
Mr Foster, as their teacher, at such times; but he was slow to resent
it, and Mr Snow's silent laughter testified to his enjoyment of this
particular occasion. The strife was getting warm when Mr Greenleaf's
knock was heard. Norman was in the act of hurling some hundred
thousands of black slaves at the schoolmaster's devoted head, while Mr
Foster strove hard to shield himself by holding up "Britain's wretched
operatives and starving poor."

"Come along, Squire," said Mr Snow. "We want you to settle this little
difficulty. Mrs Nasmyth ain't going to let you into the study just
now, at least she wouldn't let me. The minister's busy to-night."

Mr Greenleaf, nothing loth, sat down and drew Marian to his knee.

Neither Norman nor Mr Foster was so eager to go on as Mr Snow was to
have them; but after a little judicious stirring up on his part, they
were soon in "full blast," as he whispered to his friend. The
discussion was about slavery this time, and need not be given. It was
not confined to Norman and Mr Foster. All the rest had something to
say; even Janet joined when she thought a side thrust would be of use.
But Norman was the chief speaker on his side. The subject had been
discussed in the village School Lyceum, and Norman had distinguished
himself there; not exactly by the clearness or the strength of his
arguments--certainly not by their originality. But he thundered forth
the lines beginning "I would not have a slave," etcetera, to the intense
delight of his side, and to at least the momentary discomfiture of the
other.

To-night he was neither very logical nor very reasonable, and Mr Foster
c