"Do I? More than the English government does. Don't I own land
there?"
"I mean do you know anything about the people?" insisted Angela.
"I know them to be a lot of thieving, rascally scoundrels, too lazy
to work, and too dishonest to pay their way, even when they have the
money."
"Is that all you know?"
"All!" He stopped eating to look angrily at his daughter. The cross-
examination was not to his liking.
Angela went on
"Yes, father; is that all you know about the Irish?"
"Isn't it enough?" His voice rose shrilly. It was the first time for
years anyone had dared use those two hated words "Ireland" and
"Irish" at his table. Angela must be checked and at once.
Before he could begin to check her, however, Angela answered his
question:
"It wouldn't be enough for me if I had the responsibilities and
duties of a landlord. To be the owner of an estate should be to act
as the people's friend, their father, their adviser in times of
plenty and their comrade in times of sorrow."
"Indeed? And pray where did you learn all that, Miss?" asked the
astonished parent.
Without noticing the interruption or the question, Angela went on:
"Why deny a country its own government when England is practically
governed by its countrymen? Is there any position of prominence
today in England that isn't filled by Irishmen? Think.
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