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while to Maimie talking to the men who were crowded about her。 How
brilliantly she talked； finding it quite within her powers to keep
several men busy at the same time； and as Ranald listened to her
gay； frivolous talk； more and more he became conscious of an
unpleasantness in her tone。 It was thin； shallow； and heartless。
〃Can it be possible；〃 he said to himself； 〃that once she had the
power to make my heart quicken its beat？〃
〃Tell me about the West；〃 Lady Mary was saying； when Ranald came to
himself。
〃If I begin about the West；〃 he replied； 〃I must have both time and
space to deliver myself。〃
〃Come； then。 We shall find a corner；〃 said Lady Mary； and for half
an hour did Ranald discourse to her of the West； and so eloquently
that Lady Mary quite forgot that he was a lion and that she had
been intrusted with the duty of exhibiting him。 By and by Maimie
found them。
〃Now； Lady Mary； you are very selfish； for so many people are
wanting to see our hero； and here is the premier wanting to see
you。〃
〃Ah； Lady Mary；〃 said Sir John； 〃you have captured the man from
Glengarry； I see。〃
〃I hope so； indeed；〃 said Lady Mary； 〃but why from Glengarry？ He
is from the West； is he not？〃
〃Once from Glengarry； now from the West； and I hope he will often
come from the West； and he will； no doubt； if those people know
what is good for them。〃 And Sir John； skillfully drawing Ranald
aside； led him to talk of the political situation in British
Columbia； now and then putting a question that revealed a knowledge
so full and accurate that Ranald exclaimed； suddenly； 〃Why； Sir
John； you know more about the country than I do！〃
〃Not at all； not at all；〃 replied Sir John； and then； lowering his
voice to a confidential tone； he added； 〃You are the first man from
that country that knows what I want to know。〃 And once more he
plied Ranald with questions； listening eagerly and intelligently to
the answers so enthusiastically given。
〃We want to make this Dominion a great empire；〃 said Sir John； as
he said good by to Ranald； 〃and we are going to do it； but you and
men like you in the West must do your part。〃
Ranald was much impressed by the premier's grave earnestness。
〃I will try； Sir John；〃 he said； 〃and I shall go back feeling
thankful that you are going to show us the way。〃
〃Going so soon？〃 said Maimie； when he came to say good by。 〃Why I
have seen nothing of you； and I have not had a moment to offer you
my congratulations；〃 she said； with a significant smile。 Ranald
bowed his thanks。
〃And Kate； dear girl；〃 went on Maimie； 〃she never comes to see me
now； but I am glad she will be so happy。〃
Ranald looked at her steadily for a moment or two； and then said；
quietly； 〃I am sure I hope so； and Harry is a very lucky chap。〃
〃Oh； isn't he；〃 cried Maimie； 〃and he is just daft about her。 Must
you go？ I am so sorry。 I wanted to talk about old times； the dear
old days。〃 The look in Maimie's eyes said much more than her
words。
〃Yes；〃 said Ranald； with an easy； frank smile； 〃they were dear
days； indeed； I often think of them。 And now I must really go。
Say good by to De Lacy for me。〃
He came away from her with an inexplicable feeling of exultation。
He had gone with some slight trepidation in his heart； to meet her；
and it was no small relief to him to discover that she had lost all
power over him。
〃What sort of man could I have been； I wonder？〃 he asked himself；
〃and it was only three years ago。〃
Near the door Lady Mary stopped him。 〃Going so early； and without
saying good by？〃 she said； reproachfully。
〃I must leave town to…night；〃 he replied； 〃but I am glad to say
good by to you。〃
〃I think you ought to stay。 I am sure His Excellency wants to see
you。〃
〃I am sure you are good to think so； but I am also quite sure that
he has never given a thought to my insignificant self。〃
〃Indeed he has。 Now； can't you stay a few days？ I want to see
morewe all want to hear more about the West。〃
〃You will never know the West by hearing of it；〃 said Ranald；
offering his hand。
〃Good by；〃 she said； 〃I am coming。〃
〃Good；〃 he said； 〃I shall look for you。〃
As Ranald approached his hotel； he saw a man that seemed oddly
familiar； lounging against the door and as he drew near； he
discovered to his astonishment and joy that it was Yankee。
〃Why； Yankee！〃 he exclaimed； rushing at him； 〃how in the world did
you come to be here； and what brought you？〃
〃Well； I came for you； I guess。 Heard you were going to be here
and were comin' home afterwards； so I thought it would be quicker
for you to drive straight across than to go round by Cornwall； so I
hitched up Lisette and came right along。〃
〃Lisette！ You don't mean to tell me？ How is the old girl？
Yankee； you have done a fine thing。 Now we will start right away。〃
〃All right；〃 said Yankee。
〃How long will it take us to get home？〃
〃'Bout two days easy goin；' I guess。 Of course if you want； I
guess we can do it in a day and a half。 She will do all you tell
her。〃
〃Well； we will take two days；〃 said Ranald。
〃I guess we had better take a pretty early start；〃 said Yankee。
〃Can't we get off to…night？〃 inquired Ranald； eagerly。 〃We could
get out ten miles or so。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Yankee。 〃There's a good place to stop； about ten
miles out。 I think we had better go along the river road； and then
take down through the Russell Hills to the Nation Crossing。〃
In half an hour they were off on their two days' trip to the Indian
Lands。 And two glorious days they were。 The open air with the
suggestion of the coming fall； the great forests with their varying
hues of green and brown； yellow and bright red； and all bathed in
the smoky purple light of the September sun； these all combined to
bring to Ranald's heart the rest and comfort and peace that he so
sorely needed。 And when he drove into his uncle's yard in the late
afternoon of the second day； he felt himself more content to live
the life appointed him； and if anything more were needed to
strengthen him in this resolution； and to fit him for the fight
lying before him； his brief visit to his home brought it to him。
It did him good to look into the face of the great Macdonald Bhain
once more； and to hear his deep； steady voice welcome him home。 It
was the face and the voice of a man who had passed through many a
sore battle； and not without honor to himself。 And it was good；
too； to receive the welcome greetings of his old friends and to
feel their pride in him and their high expectation of him。 More
than ever； he resolved that he would be a man worthy of his race。
His visit to the manse brought him mingled feelings of delight and
perplexity and pain。 The minister's welcome was kind； but there
was a tinge of self…complacent pride in it。 Ranald was one of 〃his
lads；〃 and he evidently took credit to himself for the young man's
success。 Hughie regarded him with reserved approval。 He was now a
man and teaching school； and before committing himself to his old…
time devotion； he had to adjust his mind to the new conditions。
But before the evening was half done Ranald had won him once more。
His tales