The trinity of corn, wheat, and tobacco occupied them for a while, as did the fruit and an experiment in vine-growing.

The horse then entered the conversation, and Rand asked after Goldenrod, that had won the cup at Fredericksburg.

"I broke him for you, you know, sir, seven years ago." Colonel Churchill, who in his own drawing-room would not for the world have mentioned this little fact to his guest, suddenly thought within his honest heart, "This is a man, even if he is a damned Republican!" He gave a circumstantial account of Goldenrod, and of Goldenrod's brother, Firefly, and he said to himself, "I'll keep off politics." Presently Rand began to speak of Adam Gaudylock's account of New Orleans.
"Ay, ay," said the Colonel, "there's a city! But it's not English--it is Spanish and French.

And all that new land now! 'twill never be held--begging your pardon, Mr.Rand--by Thomas Jefferson and a lot of new-fangled notions! No Spaniard ever did believe that all men are born equal, and no Frenchman ever wanted liberty long--not unadorned liberty, anyway.

As for our own people who are pouring over the mountains--well, English blood naturally likes pride and power and what was good enough for its grandparents! Louisiana is too big and too far away.