Isn't
that nice doctrine? She's always reading books about them."
"It is, Dora, and thrue doctrine; and so we ought--that is, if our
deaths would serve either the one or the other."
"And would you die for them, if it went to that? because if you would, I
would; for then I'd know that I ought to do it."
"I don't know, Dora, whether I'd have strength or courage to do so, but
I know one who would."
"I know too--Kathleen."
"Kathleen? you have said it. She would, I am certain, lay down her
life for either her religion or the welfare of her country, if such a
sacrifice could be necessary."
"Bryan, I have heard a thing about her, and I don't know whether I ought
to tell it to you or not."
"I lave that to your own discretion, Dora; but you haven't heard, nor
can you tell me anything, but what must be to her credit."
"I'll tell you, then; I heard it, but I won't believe it till I satisfy
myself--that your family daren't name your name to her at home, and that
everything is to be over between you. Now, I'm on my way there to know
whether this is true or not; if it is, I'll think less of her than I
ever did."
"And I won't Dora; but will think more highly of her still. She thinks
I'm as bad as I'm reported to be."
"And that's just what she ought not to think. Why not see you and ask
you the raison of it like a--ha! ha!--I was goin' to say like a man?
Sure if she was as generous as she ought to be, she'd call upon you to
explain yourself; or, at any rate, she'd defend you behind your back,
and, when the world's against you, whether you wor right or wrong.
Pages:
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383