"Every one knows that. Why did he run away, John?"
"Because he wanted to be free, I suppose, and not have to work without pay."
"And don't they pay slaves?" asked Leila.
"No, they don't." John felt unable to make clear to her why the two people they respected and loved never discussed what the village talked about so freely. These intelligent children were in the toils of a question which was disturbing the consciences and the interests of a continent. The simpler side was clear to both of them. The idea of selling the industrious old barber was as yet enough to settle their politics.
"Aunt Ann must have good reasons," said John. "Mr. Rivers says she is the most just woman he ever knew." It puzzled him. "I suppose we are too young to understand."
"Aunt Ann will never talk about slaves. I asked her last week."
"But Uncle Jim will talk, and he likes to be asked when we are alone. I don't believe in slavery."
"Well, no one owns me, I tell you; they'd have a hard time."
She shook what Rivers called her free-flowing cascade of hair in the pride of conscious freedom. The talk ran on. At last she said, "I'll tell you a queer thing. I heard Mr. Rivers say to uncle--I heard him say, we were all slaves. He said that no one owns himself. I think that's silly," said the young philosopher, "don't you, John?"
"I don't know," returned John; "I think it's a big puzzle. Let's go."
No word reached the Squire of the battle behind the church until four days later, when Rivers came in after dinner and found Penhallow in his library deep in thought.
"Yes, affairs are in a bad way and will be until the election is over. It always disturbs commerce. The town will go Democratic, I suppose."
"Yes, as I told you, unless you take a hand and are in earnest and outspoken."
"I could be, but it has not yet the force of imperative duty, and it would hurt Ann more than I feel willing to do. Talk of something else. She would cease her mild canvass if she thought it annoyed me."
"I see--sir. I think I ought to tell you that John has had another battle with Tom McGregor."
"Indeed?" The Squire sat up, all attention. "He does not show any marks of it."
"Well, I believe, Tom thought John told you what boys were in that joke on Billy. I fancy something was said about you--something personal, which John resented."