There wasn't one of you that didn't hate like the devil to see me Governor of Virginia--and yet how many of you took the trouble to find out what I am made of, or to understand what I mean?
Did you even take the trouble to go to the polls and vote against me ?" Though Stephen flushed scarlet, he held his ground bravely.

It was true that he had not voted--he hated the whole sordid business of politics--but then, who had ever suspected for a minute that Gideon Vetch would be elected?
His brief liking for the man had changed suddenly to exasperation.

It seemed incredible to him that any Governor of Virginia should display so open a disregard of the ordinary rules of courtesy and hospitality.

To drag in their political differences at such a time, when he had come beneath the other's roof merely to render him an unavoidable service! To stoop to the pettifogging sophistry of the agitator simply because his opponent had reluctantly yielded him an opportunity! "Well, I heard you speak, but that didn't change me!" he retorted with a smile.
The Governor laughed, and the sincerity of his amusement was evident even to Stephen.

"Could anything short of a blasting operation change you traditional Virginians ?" he inquired.
His face was turned to the fire, and the young man felt while he watched him that a piercing light was shed on his character.