@@@@@ What more can you ask?" Colum's patience
@@@@@
What more can you ask?" Colum's patience cracked"I can ask that
you
not be such a trusting fool! Do you not know that your MrParnell is
a landlord himself? And a ProtestantAnd educated at the English
Oxford UniversityHe's looking for votes, not justiceThe man's a
politician, and his Home Rule policy, that you've swallowed for the
sugar coating of his earnest manner and handsome face, is nothing
more
nor less than a stick for him to shake at the English and a carrot to
tempt the poor ignorant Irish donkey
"There's simply no talking to you! Why, he said right out that he
supports the" Colum grabbed Scarlett's arm"Did you say anything?"
She jerked away from himYou take me for a fool
and
lecture me like I'm a fool, but I am not a foolAnd I know this
much
There's no reason to smuggle in guns and start a war if you can get
what you want without itI lived through a war that a bunch of
hotheads started because of some high-faluting principlesAll it did
was kill most of my friends and ruin everythingI'm
telling you right now, Colum O'Hara, there's a way to get Ireland back
for the Irish without killing and burning, and that's what I'm forNo
more money for Stephen to buy guns with, do you hear? And no more
guns
hidden away in my townI want them out of that churchI don't care
what you do with them, sink them in the bog for all it matters to me
But I want to be rid of them
"And rid of me as well, are you saying?"
"If you insist, then-" Scarlett's eyes filled with tears"What am I
saying? What are you saying? Oh, Colum, don't let this happen
You're my best friend, my almost brotherPlease, please, please
Colum, don't be so hardheadedI don't want to fight The tears
spilled overColum took her hand in his and held it very t