"
Frances glanced her eye at her companion with an apparent desire to hear
more.
"There are rumors abroad relative to the character of Harvey," she said,
"that I should be sorry were true."
"'Tis a disparagement, every word on't," cried Katy, vehemently. "Harvey
had no more dealings with Beelzebub than you or I had. I'm sure if
Harvey had sold himself, he would take care to be better paid; though,
to speak the truth, he was always a wasteful and disregardful man."
"Nay, nay," returned the smiling Frances, "I have no such injurious
suspicion of him; but has he not sold himself to an earthly prince--one
too much attached to the interests of his native island to be always
just to this country?"
"To the king's majesty!" replied Katy. "Why, Miss Fanny, your own
brother that's in jail serves King George."
"True," said Frances, "but not in secret--openly, manfully, and
bravely."
"'Tis said he is a spy, and why ain't one spy as bad as another?"
"'Tis untrue; no act of deception is worthy of my brother; nor of any
would he be guilty, for so base a purpose as gain or promotion."
"Well, I'm sure," said Katy, a little appalled at the manner of the
young lady, "if a body does the work, he should be paid for it. Harvey
is by no means partic'lar about getting his lawful dues; and I dar'st to
say, if the truth was forthcoming, King George owes him money this
very minute.
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