“I?  Now, Aunt Ann, what would you have done or said?”

“Oh, voted with the Democrats, of course.”

“Oh, Mrs. Penhallow!” cried the Rector.

The Squire much amused asked, “Well, Leila, did you run away?”

“I—­Oh, Uncle Jim!  I said I was a democrat—­I voted the Democratic ticket.”

“Did you?” exclaimed Rivers.

“So James Penhallow and my brother Charles have lost a Republican vote,” laughed Ann.

“But, Aunt Ann, I added that I was a Douglas Democrat.”

The Squire exploded into peals of laughter.  Ann said, “For shame!”

“They decided to lynch me, but no one of them could catch me before Miss
Mayo appeared on the playground and we all became demure as pussy cats. 
She was cross.”

“She was quite right,” said her aunt.  “I do not see why girls should be discussing politics.”

Rivers became silently regardant, and Penhallow frowning sat still.  The anticipated bolt had fallen—­it fell in vain.  Leila did not accept the decree, but defended herself gaily.  “Aunt Ann,” she said, “Douglas is right, or at least half right.  And do tell me how old must a girl be before she has a right to think?”

“Think!  Oh, if you like, think.  But, my dear Leila, your uncle, Mr. Rivers and I, although we think and hold very diverse opinions, feel that on such matters discussion only leaves a sting, and so we tacitly leave it out of our talk.  There, my dear, you have my opinion.”

There was a moment of silence.  Leila looked up.  “Oh, my dear Aunt Ann, if you were on the side of old Nick, Mr. Rivers wouldn’t care a penny less for you, and I never could see why to differ in talk about politics is going to hurt past anything love could accept.  Aunt Helen and Uncle Charles both talk politics and they do love one another, although Aunt Helen is tremendously Democratic.”

“My dear Leila!”

“Oh, Aunt Ann!  I will not say a word more if you want me to hold my tongue.”

“Wouldn’t the other way be more wholesome on the whole?” said Rivers.

“I have long thought so,” said the Squire.  “There are ways and ways—­”

“Perhaps,” said Ann.  “Shall you ride with your uncle tomorrow, Leila?”

“Oh, shall I!  I long for it—­I dream about it.  May I ride Dixy, Uncle Jim?”

“Yes, if you have a riding-habit you can wear.  We will see to that.  You have grown a good bit, but I fancy we can manage.”

“And how is Pole, aunt; and the doctor and Crocker and his fat wife—­oh, and everybody?”

“Oh, much, as usual.  We had a skirmish about mutton, but the last Pole sent is good—­in fact, excellent.  He needs watching.”

Then the talk fell on the lessened work at the mills, and there being now four players the Squire had his whist again, and later carried Rivers away to smoke in the library, leaving Ann and Leila.