has a way of reasoning on the matter to which I cannot assent, and I am
willing to choose you as arbitrator between us."

"Before Mr. Littlepage accept the office, it is proper he should know its
duties and responsibilities," said Anneke, smiling. "In the first place,
he will find Mr. Bulstrode with loud professions of attachment to the
colonies, much disposed to think them provinces that owe their very
existence to England; while I maintain it is English _men_, and that it
is not England, that have done so much in America. As for New York, Mr.
Littlepage, and especially as for you and me, we can also say a word in
favour of Holland. I am very proud of my Dutch connections and Dutch
descent."

I was much gratified with the "as for you and me;" though I believe I cared
less for Holland than she did herself. I made an answer much in the vein
of the moment; but the conversation soon changed to the subject of the
military theatre that was about to open.

"I shall dread you as a critic, cousin Annie," so Bulstrode often termed
Anneke, as I soon discovered; "I find you are not too well disposed to us
of the cockade, and I think you have a particular spite to our regiment.
I know that Billings and Harris, too, hold you in the greatest possible
dread."

"They then feel apprehensive of a very ignorant critic; for I never was
present at a theatrical entertainment in my life," Anneke answered with
perfect simplicity. "So far as I can learn, there never has been but one
season of any regular company, in this colony; and that was when I was a
very little and a very young girl--as I am now neither very large, nor very
old as a young woman."