"No!" said he. "Do you?"
"No. What do you think would happen if a Northern President should be elected in the fall?"
"Then slavery would not go into the territories," he said, looking a little surprised at me. "The question would be settled."
"But do you know some people say—some people at the South say—that if a Northern President is elected, the Southern States will not submit to him?"
"Some people talk a great deal of nonsense," said Mr. Thorold. "How could they help submitting?"
"They say—it is said—that they would break off from the North and set up for themselves. It is not foolish people that say it, Mr. Thorold."
"Will you pardon me, Miss Randolph, but I think they would be very foolish people that would do it."
"Oh, I think so too," I said. "I mean, that some people who are not foolish believe that it might happen."
"Perhaps," said Mr. Thorold. "I never heard anything of
it before. You are from the South yourself, Miss Randolph?" he added, looking at me.