Jennie Barton refused to listen to her father's abuse.
Socola found them in the middle of a family quarrel on the subject so
intense he could not help hearing the conversation from the adjoining
room before Jennie entered.
"The President hates Johnston, I tell you," stormed the Senator. "He
doesn't like Beauregard either. He's jealous of him!"
"Father dear, how can you be so absurd!" the girl protested. "A few
months ago Beauregard was a captain of artillery. The President has made
him a general of equal rank with Lee and Johnston--"
"He's doing all he can now to spite him!"
"So General Beauregard says--the conceit of it! This little general but
yesterday a captain to dare to say that the President who had honored
him with such high command would sacrifice the country and injure
himself just to spite the man he has promoted!"
"That will do, Jennie," the Senator commanded. "Women don't understand
politics!"
"Thank God I don't understand that kind. I just know enough to be loyal
to my Chief, when our life and his may depend on it--"
With a stamp of his heavy foot the Senator ended the discussion by
leaving the room.
Jennie smiled sweetly as she extended her hand to Socola.
"I hope you were not alarmed, Signor.
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