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〃If we ever get there alive；〃 said Harry。
〃Here we are sure enough。〃
〃Shall I go to the train？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 cried Kate。 〃Do you think I am going to allow any
one to meet MY Aunt Murray but myself？ I shall go； you hold the
horses。〃
〃I am afraid； really；〃 cried Harry； pretending terror。
〃Oh； I fancy you will do；〃 cried Kate； smiling sweetly； as she ran
off to meet the incoming train。 In a few moments she returned with
Mrs。 Murray and carrying a large； black valise。
〃Hello； auntie dear；〃 cried Harry。 〃You see I can't leave these
brutes of Kate's； but believe me it does me good to see you。 What
a blessing a wedding is to bring you to us。 I suppose you won't
come again until it is Kate's or mine。〃
〃That would be sure to bring me；〃 cried Mrs。 Murray； smiling her
bright smile； 〃provided you married the right persons。〃
〃Why； auntie；〃 said Harry； dismally； 〃Kate is so unreasonable。 She
won't take even me。 You see she's so tremendously impressed with
herself； and all the fellows spoil her。〃
By this time Kate had the reins and Harry had climbed into the back
seat。
〃Dear old auntie；〃 he said； kissing his aunt； 〃I am really
delighted to see you。 But to return to Kate。 Look at her！
Doesn't she look like a Roman princess？〃
〃Now； Harry； do be sensible； or I shall certainly drive you at once
to the office；〃 said Kate； severely。
〃Oh； the heartlessness of her。 She knows well enough that Colonel
Thorp is there； and she would shamelessly exult over his abject
devotion。 She respects neither innocent youth nor gray hairs； as
witness myself and Colonel Thorp。〃
〃Isn't he a silly boy； auntie？〃 said Kate； 〃and he is not much
improving with age。〃
〃But what's this about Colonel Thorp？〃 said Mrs。 Murray。 〃Sometimes
Ranald writes of him； in high terms； too。〃
〃Well； you ought to hear Thorp abuse Ranald。 Says he's ruining the
company with his various philanthropic schemes；〃 said Harry； 〃but
you can never tell what he means exactly。 He's a wily old customer。〃
〃Don't believe him； auntie；〃 said Kate； with a sagacious smile。
〃Colonel Thorp thinks that the whole future of his company and of
the Province depends solely upon Ranald。 It is quite ridiculous to
hear him； while all the time he is abusing him for his freaks。〃
〃It must be a great country out there； though；〃 said Harry； 〃and
what a row they are making over Confederation。〃
〃What do you mean； Harry？〃 said Mrs。 Murray。 〃We hear so little in
the country。〃
〃Well； I don't know exactly； but those fellows in British Columbia
are making all sorts of threats that unless this railway is built
forthwith they will back out of the Dominion； and some of them talk
of annexation with the United States。 Don't I wish I was there！
What a lucky fellow Ranald is。 Thorp says he's a big gun already。
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 drunkfed； I meanand 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 I
do？ 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？ I
remember 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 I
found 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；〃 s