omplained at last.

"But, Norman, you don't keep to the point."

"Talks all round the lot," said Mr Snow.

"I'm afraid that is not confined to Norman," said Mr Greenleaf.

"Norman is right, anyway," pronounced Menie.

"He reasons in a circle," said the master. "And because slavery is the
only flaw in--"

"The only flaw!" said Norman, with awful irony.

"Well, yes," interposed Mr Snow. "But we have had enough of the
Constitution for to-night. Let's look at our country. _It_ can't be
beaten any way you take it. Physically or morally," pursued he, with
great gravity, "it can't be beaten. There are no such mountains,
rivers, nor lakes as ours are. Our laws and our institutions generally
are just about what they ought to see. Even foreigners see that, and
prove it, by coming to share our privileges. Where will you find such a
general diffusion of knowledge among all classes? Classes? There is
only one class. All are free and equal."

"Folk thinking themselves equal doesna make them equal," said Mrs
Nasmyth, to whom the last remark had been addressed. "For my part, I
never saw pride--really to call pride--till I saw it in this fine
country o' yours--ilka ane thinking himself as good as his neighbour."

"Well--so they be. Liberty and equality is our ticket."

"But ye're no' a' equal. There's as muckle difference among folks here
as elsewhere, whatever be your ticket. There are folk coming and going
here, that in my country I would hate sent round to the back door; but
naething short of the company of the minister himself will serve them.
Gentlemen like the Judge, or like Mr Greenleaf here, will sit and bide
the minister's time; but upsettin' bodies such as I could name--"

"Well, I wouldn't name them, I guess. General principles are best in
such a case," said Mr Snow. "And I am willing to confess there is
among us an aristocracy of merit. Your friend the Judge belongs to that
and your father, Miss Graeme; and I expect Squire Greenleaf will, too,
when he goes to Congress. But no man is great here just because his
father was before him. Everybody has a chance. Now, on your side of
the water, `a man must be just what his father was.' Folks must stay
just there. That's a fact."

"You seem to be weel informed," said Janet drily.

"Ah! yes; I know all about it. Anybody may know anything and everything
in this country. We're a great people. Ain't that so, Mr Foster?"

"It must be granted by