IsitbecausetheCeltcannotbrookequality；andwherehehasnotanestablishedandrecognizedcasteabovehim，longstotrampleonthoseabouthim；andifhecannotbelowest，willatleastbehighest？
However，ourfriendsdidnotsufferthisoranyotheradvantageofthecolonialrelationtodivertthemfromtheopiniontowhichtheirobservationwasgraduallybringingthem，——thatitsoverweeningloyaltyplacedagreatcountrylikeCanadainsverysillyattitude，theattitudeofanovergrown，unmanlyboy，clingingtothematernalskirts，andthoughspoiltandwillful，withoutanycharacterofhisown。Theconstantreferenceoflocalhopestothatremotecentrebeyondseas，thetestofsuccessbythecriterionsofanecessarilydifferentcivilization，thesocialandintellectualdependenceimpliedbytraitsthatmeetthemosthurriedglanceintheDominion，giveaneffectofmeannesstothewholefabric。Doubtlessitisalifeofcomfort，ofpeace，ofirresponsibilitytheylivethere，butitlacksthegrandeurwhichnosumofmaterialprosperitycangive；itisignoble，likeallvoluntarilysubordinatethings。Somehow，onefeelsthatithasnobasisintheNewWorld，andthattillitisshakenloosefromEnglanditcannothave。
Itwouldbeapity，however，ifitshouldbepartedfromtheparentcountrymerelytobejoinedtoanunsympathetichalf-brotherlikeourselvesandnothing，fortunately，seemstobefurtherfromtheCanadianmind。Therearesomeexperimentsnolongerpossibletouswhichcouldstillbetriedtheretotheadvantageofcivilization，andwewerebettertwogreatnationssidebysidethanaunionofdiscordanttraditionsandideas。ButnonethelessdoestheAmericantraveller，swellingwithforgetfulnessoftheshabbydespotswhogovernNewYork，andtheswindlingrailroadkingswhosewordislawtothewholeland，feellikesayingtothehullingyounggiantbeyondSt。LawrenceandtheLakes，“Severtheapron-stringsofallegiance，andtrytobeyourselfwhateveryouare。“
SomethingofthissortBasilsaid，thoughofcoursenotinapostrophicphrase，norwithIsabel’sentireconcurrence，whenheexplainedtoherthatitwastothecolonialdependenceofCanadasheowedtheabilitytobuythingssocheaplythere。
Thefactisthattheladies’parloratthehotelhadbeenafterdinnernobetterthanadenofsmugglers，inwhichthefaircontrabandistshaddebatedthebestmeansofevadingthelawsoftheircountry。Athearteverymanisasmuggler，andhowmuchmoreeverywoman！ShewouldhavenoscrupleinruiningthesilkandwooleninterestthroughouttheUnitedStates。Sheisafree-traderbyintuitiveperceptionofright，andislimitedinpracticebynothingbutfearofthestatute。WhatcouldbetakenintotheStateswithoutdetection，wasthesubjectbeforethatwickedconclave；andnext，whatitwouldpaytobuyinCanada。Itseemedthatsilkumbrellasweremosteligiblewares；andinthedisplayofsuchpurchasestheparlorwasgiventheappearanceofaviolentthunder-storm。