No end of a swell. Of course, as manager of a big concern like the British-American Coal and Lumber Company, he is a man of some importance.""I don't think he is taking much to do with public questions," said Kate, "though he did make a speech at New Westminster not long ago.
He has been up in those terrible woods almost ever since he went.""Hello, how do you know?" said Harry, looking at her suspiciously;"I get a fragment of a note from Ranald now and then, but he is altogether too busy to remember humble people.""I hear regularly from Coley. You remember Coley, don't you?" said Kate, turning to Mrs. Murray.
"Oh, yes, that's the lad in whom Ranald was so interested in the Institute.""Yes," replied Kate; "Coley begged and prayed to go with Ranald, and so he went.""She omits to state," said Harry, "that she also 'begged and prayed' and further that she outfitted the young rascal, though I've reason to thank Providence for removing him to another sphere.""How does it affect you?" said Mrs. Murray.
"Why, haven't you heard, Aunt Murray, of the tremendous heights to which I have attained? I suppose she didn't tell you of her dinner party. That was after you had left last fall. It was a great bit of generalship. Some of Ranald's foot-ball friends, Little Merrill, Starry Hamilton, that's the captain, you know, and myself among them, were asked to a farewell supper by this young lady, and when the men had well drunk--fed, I mean--and were properly dissolved in tears over the prospect of Ranald's departure, at a critical moment the Institute was introduced as a side issue. It was dear to Ranald's heart. A most effective picture was drawn of the Institute deserted and falling into ruins, so to speak, with Kate heroically struggling to prevent utter collapse. Could this be allowed? No! a thousand times no! Some one would be found surely! Who would it be! At this juncture Kate, who had been maintaining a powerful silence, smiled upon Little Merrill, who being distinctly inflammable, and for some mysterious reason devoted to Ranald, and for an even more mysterious reason devoted to Kate, swore he'd follow if some one would lead. What could Ido? My well-known abilities naturally singled me out for leadership, so to prevent any such calamity, I immediately proposed that if Starry Hamilton, the great foot-ball chief, would command this enterprise I would follow. Before the evening was over the Institute was thoroughly manned.""It is nearly half true, aunt," said Kate.
"And by our united efforts," continued Harry, "the Institute has survived the loss of Ranald.""I cannot tell you how overjoyed I am, Harry, that both of my boys are taking hold of such good work, you here and Ranald in British Columbia. He must have a very hard time of it, but he speaks very gratefully of Colonel Thorp, who, he says, often opposes but finally agrees with his proposals."Harry laughed aloud. "Agrees, does he? And do you know why? Iremember seeing him one day, and he was in a state of wild fury at Ranald's notions. I won't quote his exact words. The next day Ifound him in a state of bland approval. Then I learn incidentally that in the meantime Kate has been giving him tea and music.""Don't listen to his mean insinuations, auntie," said Kate, blushing a little.
Mrs. Murray turned and looked curiously into her face and smiled, and then Kate blushed all the more.
"I think that may explain some things that have been mysterious to me," she said.
"Oh, what, auntie?" cried Harry; "I am most anxious to know.""Never mind," said Mrs. Murray; "I will explain to Kate.""That won't help me any. She is a most secretive person, twiddles us all round her fingers and never lets us know anything until it's done. It is most exasperating. Oh, I say, Kate," added Harry, suddenly, "would you mind dropping me at the florist's here?""Why? Oh, I see," said Kate, drawing in her team. "How do you do, Lily? Harry is anxious to select some flowers," she said, bowing to a very pretty girl on the sidewalk.
"Kate, do stop it," besought Harry, in a low voice, as he leaped out of the carriage. "Good by, auntie, I'll see you this evening.
Don't believe all Kate tells you," he added, as they drove away.
"Are you too tired for a turn in the park," said Kate, "or shall we drive home?"A drive is always pleasant. Besides, one can talk about some things with more freedom in a carriage than face to face in one's room. The horses require attention at critical moments, and there are always points of interest when it is important that conversation should be deflected from the subject in hand, so since Mrs. Murray was willing, Kate turned into the park. For an hour they drove along its shady, winding roads while Mrs. Murray talked of many things, but mostly of Ranald, and of the tales that the Glengarry people had of him. For wherever there was lumbering to be done, sooner or later there Glengarry men were to be found, and Ranald had found them in the British Columbia forests. And to their people at home their letters spoke of Ranald and his doings at first doubtfully, soon more confidently, but always with pride. To Macdonald Bhain a rare letter came from Ranald now and then, which he would carry to Mrs. Murray with a difficult pretense of modesty.
For with Macdonald Bhain, Ranald was a great man.
"But he is not quite sure of him," said Mrs. Murray. "He thinks it is a very queer way of lumbering, and the wages he considers excessive.""Does he say that?" asked Kate. "That's just what Colonel Thorp says his company are saying. But he stands up for Ranald even when he can't see that his way is the best. The colonel is not very sure about Ranald's schemes for the men, his reading-room, library, and that sort of thing. But I'm sure he will succeed." But Kate's tone belied her confident words.
