corner for such a confession of ignorance. Why, mademoiselle, can't you see that it is our gold which buys us French politeness, German goodwill, and Swiss servility?" And he sneered diabolically.
"Swiss!" said Frances, catching the word "servility." "Do you call my countrymen servile?" And she started up. I could not suppress a low laugh; there was ire in her glance and defiance in her attitude. "Do you abuse Switzerland to me, Mr. Hunsden? Do you think I have no associations? Do you calculate that I am prepared to dwell only on what vice and degradation may be found in Alpine villages, and to leave quite out of my heart the social greatness of my countrymen, and our blood-earned freedom, and the natural glories of our mountains? You're mistaken—you're mistaken."
"Social greatness? Call it what you will, your countrymen are sensible fellows; they make a marketable article of what to you is an abstract
