Fulkersonappearednottobeverystrenuousabouttheattackonthenovelist。\"Say!\"hecalledout，gayly，\"whatshouldyouthinkofapaperdefendingthelatelamentedsystemofslavery\'?\"
\"Whatdoyoumean，Fulkerson?\"askedMarch，withapuzzledsmile。
Fulkersonbracedhiskneesagainsthisdesk，andpushedhimselfback，butkepthisbalancetotheeyebycantinghishatsharplyforward。\"There\'sanoldcockoverthereatthewidow\'sthat\'swrittenabooktoprovethatslaverywasandistheonlysolutionofthelaborproblem。He\'saSoutherner。\"
\"Ishouldimagine，\"Marchassented。
\"He\'sgotitonthebrainthatiftheSouthcouldhavebeenletalonebythecommercialspiritandthepseudophilanthropyoftheNorth，itwouldhaveworkedoutslaveryintoaperfectlyidealconditionforthelaborer，inwhichhewouldhavebeeninsuredagainstwant，andprotectedinallhispersonalrightsbythestate。Hereadtheintroductiontomelastnight。Ididn\'tcatchontoallthepoints——hisdaughter\'sanawfullyprettygirl，andIwascarryingthatfactinmymindallthetime，too，youknow——butthat\'saboutthegistofit。\"