the major- 第23部分

〃Am　I？〃　said　Nora；　exceedingly　pleased　with　herself。　　〃I　am　awfully　glad。　　It　is　all　Kathleen's　doing。　　I　got　me　the　belt　and　the　hat　new　for　this　show。〃

〃Very　smart；　that　belt；　my　dear；〃　said　her　friend。

〃I　rather　fancy　it　myself；　and　Kathleen　would　do　up　my　hair　in　this　new　way；〃　said　Nora；　removing　her　hat　that　the　full　glory　of　her　coiffure　might　appear。　　〃Do　you　like　it？〃

〃Perfectly　spiffing！〃　ejaculated　Mr。　Duckworth；　who　had　taken　a　seat　just　behind　her　chair。

Nora　threw　him　a　challenging　glance　that　made　that　young　man's　heart　skip　a　beat　or　two　as　all　the　excitements　of　the　match　had　not。

〃Are　you　a　judge？〃　said　the　girl；　tipping　her　saucy　chin　at　him。

〃Am　I？　　With　four　sisters　and　dozens　of　cousins　to　practise　on；　I　fancy　I　might　claim　to　be　a　regular　bench　show　expert。〃

〃Then；〃　cried　Nora　with　sudden　animation；　〃you　are　the　very　man　I　want。〃

〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　replied　Mr。　Duckworth　fervently。

〃I　mean；　perhaps　you　can　advise　me。　　Now　as　you　look　at　me〃　　The　young　man's　eyes　burned　into　hers　so　that　with　all　her　audacity　Nora　felt　the　colour　rising　in　her　face。　　〃Which　would　you　suggest　as　the　most　suitable　style　for　me；　the　psyche　knot　or　the　neck　roll？〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon？　　I　rather〃

〃Or　would　you　say　the　French　twist？〃

〃Ah；　the　French　twist〃

〃Or　simply　marcelled　and　pomped？〃

〃I　am　afraid〃

〃Or　perhaps　the　pancake　or　the　coronet？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　young　man；　desperately　plunging；　〃the　coronet　I　should　say　would　certainly　not　be　inappropriate。　　It　goes　with　princesses；　duchesses　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　Don't　you　think　so；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt？〃　said　Duckworth；　hoping　to　be　extricated。　　That　lady；　however；　gave　him　no　assistance　but　continued　to　smile　affectionately　at　the　girl　beside　her。　　〃What　style　is　this　that　you　have　now　adopted；　may　I　ask？〃　inquired　Mr。　Duckworth　cautiously。

〃Oh；　that's　a　combination　of　several。　　It's　a　creation　of　Kathleen's　which　as　yet　has　received　no　name。〃

〃Then　it　should　be　named　at　once；〃　said　Duckworth　with　great　emphasis。　　〃May　I　suggest　the　Thunderbolt？　　You　see；　of　courseso　stunning。〃

〃They　are　coming　on；〃　cried　Nora；　turning　her　shoulder　in　disdain　upon　the　young　man。　　〃Look；　there's　your　brother；　Mrs。　Waring…　Gaunt。　　I　think　he　is　perfectly　splendid。〃

〃Which　is　he？〃　said　Mr。　Duckworth；　acutely　interested。

〃That　tall；　fine…looking　man　on　the　brown　pony。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　see。　　Met　him　this　morning。　　By　Jove；　he　is　some　looker　too；〃　replied　Mr。　Duckworth　with　reluctant　enthusiasm。

〃And　there　is　the　High　River　Captain；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　〃on　the　grey。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　Monteith；　he　played　for　All　Canada　last　year；　didn't　he？〃　said　Nora　with　immense　enthusiasm。　　〃He　is　perfectly　splendid。〃

〃I　hear　the　High　River　club　has　really　sent　only　its　second　team；　or　at　least　two　of　them；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃Certainly　Tremaine　is　not　with　them。〃

〃I　hope　they　get　properly　trimmed　for　it；〃　said　Nora；　indignantly。　〃Such　cheek！〃

The　result　of　the　match　quite　exceeded　Nora's　fondest　hopes；　for　the　High　River　team；　having　made　the　fatal　error　of　despising　the　enemy；　suffered　the　penalty　of　their　mistake　in　a　crushing　defeat。　It　was　certainly　a　memorable　day　for　Wolf　Willow；　whose　inhabitants　were　exalted　to　a　height　of　glory　as　they　never　experienced　in　all　their　history。

〃Serves　us　right；〃　said　Monteith；　the　High　River　Captain；　apologising　for　his　team's　poor　display　to　his　friend；　Hec　Ross；　who　had　commanded　the　Wolf　Willow　team。　　〃We　deserved　to　be　jolly　well　licked；　and　we　got　what　was　coming　to　us。〃

〃Oh；　we're　not　worrying；〃　replied　the　Wolf　Willow　Captain；　himself　a　sturdy　horseman　and　one　of　the　most　famous　stick　handlers　in　the　West。　　〃Of　course；　we　know　that　if　Murray　and　Knight　had　been　with　you　the　result　would　have　been　different。〃

〃I　am　not　at　all　sure　about　that；〃　replied　Monteith。　　〃That　new　man　of　yours；　Romayne；　is　a　wonder。　　Army　man；　isn't　he？〃

〃Yes；　played　in　India；　I　believe。〃

〃Oh；　no　wonder　he's　such　a　don　at　it。　　You　ought　to　get　together　a　great　team　here；　Ross；　and　I　should　like　to　bring　our　team　down　again　to　give　you　a　real　game。〃

〃When？〃

〃Say　two　weeks。　　No。　　That　throws　it　a　little　late　for　the　harvest。　Say　a　week　from　to…day。〃

〃I　shall　let　you　know　to…night；〃　said　Ross。　　〃You　are　staying　for　the　spellbinding　fest　and　entertainment；　are　you　not？〃

〃Sure　thing；　we　are　out　for　the　whole　day。　　Who　are　on　for　the　speaking？〃

〃Gilchrist　for　one；　our　Member　for　the　Dominion；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　strong　man；　I　believe。　　He's　a　Liberal；　of　Course。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Ross；　〃he's　a　Grit　all　right；　hide…bound　too〃

〃Which　you　are　not；　I　take　it；〃　replied　Monteith　with　a　laugh。

〃Traditionally　I　am　a　Conservative；〃　said　Ross；　〃but　last　election　I　voted　Liberal。　　I　don't　know　how　you　were　but　I　was　keen　on　Reciprocity。〃

〃The　contrary　with　me；〃　replied　Monteith。　　〃Traditionally　I　am　a　Liberal；　but　I　voted　Conservative。〃

〃You　voted　against　Reciprocity；　you　a　western　man　voted　against　a　better　market　for　our　wheat　and　stuff；　and　against　cheaper　machinery？〃

〃Yes；　I　knew　quite　well　it　would　give　us　a　better　market　for　our　grain　here；　and　it　would　give　us　cheaper　machinery　too；　butdo　you　really　care　to　know　why　I　switched？〃

〃Sure　thing；　I'd　like　awfully　to　hear　if　you　don't　mind。　　We　are　not　discussing　politics；　you　understand。〃

〃No。　　Well；〃　said　Monteith；　〃two　things　made　me　change　my　party。　In　the　first　place；　to　be　quite　frank；　I　was　afraid　of　American　domination。　　We　are　a　small　people　yet。　　Their　immense　wealth　would　overwhelm　our　manufacturers　and　flood　our　markets　with　cheap　stuff；　and　with　trade　dominance　there　would　more　easily　go　political　dominance。　　You　remember　Taft's　speech？　　That　settled　it　for　me。　That　was　one　thing。　　The　other　was　the　Navy　question。　　I　didn't　like　Laurier's　attitude。　　I　am　a　Canadian；　born　right　here　in　Alberta；　but　I　am　an　Imperialist。　　I　am　keen　about　the　Empire　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　I　believe　that　our　destiny　is　with　the　Empire　and　that　with　the　Empire　we　shall　attain　to　our　best。　　And　since　the　Empire　has　protected　us　through　all　of　our　history；　I　believe　the　time　has　come　when　we　should　make　our　contribution　to　its　defence。　　We　ought　to　have　a　fleet；　and　that　fleet　in　time　of　war　should　automatically　be　merged　with　the　Imperial　Navy。　　That's　how　I　felt　at　the　last　election。　　This　autonomy　stuff　of　Laurier's　is　all　right；　but　it　should　not　interfere　with　Imperial　unity。〃

〃It's　a　funny　thing；〃　replied　Ross。　　〃I　take　the　opposite　side　on　both　these　points。　　I　was　born　in　the　Old　Country　and　like　most　Old　Country　people　believe　in　Free　Trade。　　So　I　was　keen　to　wipe　out　all　barriers　between　the　United　States　and　ourselves　in　trade。　　I　believe　in　trading　wherever　you　can　get　the　best　terms。　　As　for　American　domination；　I　have　not　the　slightest　fear　in　the　world　of　the　Yankees。　　They　might　flood　our　markets　at　first；　probably　would；　but　they　would　certainly　bring　in　capital。　　We　need　capital　badly；　you　know　that。　　And　why　should　not　factories　be　established　on　this　side　of　the　line　with　American　money？　　Pennsylvania　does　not　hurt　New　York；　nor　Illinois　Dakota。　　Why　then；　with　all　trade　barriers　thrown　down；　should　the　United　States　hurt　Canada？　　And　then　on　the　other　side；　we　get　a　market　for　everything　we　grow　at　our　doors。　　Reciprocity　looked　good　to　me。　　As　for　imperilling　our　Imperial　connectionsI　do　not　mean　to　be　offensive　at　allof　course　you　see　what　your　position　amounts　tothat　our　financial　interests　would　swamp　our　loyalty；　that　our　loyalty　is　a　thing　of　dollars　and　cents。　　My　idea　is　that　nothing　in　the　world　from　the　outside　can　ever　break　the　bonds　that　hold　Canada　to　the　Empire；　and　after　all；　heart　bonds　are　the　strong　bonds。　　Then　in　regard　to　the　Navy；　I　take　the　other　view　from　you　also。　　I　believe　I　am　a　better　Canadian　than　you；　although　I　am　not　Canadian　born。　　I　think　there's　something　awfully　fine　in　Canada's　splendid　independence。　She　wants　to　run　her　own　ranch；　and　by　George　she　will；　and　everything　on　it。　　She　is　going　to　boss　her　own　job　and　will　allow　no　one　else　to　butt　in。　　I　agree　with　what　you　say　about　the　Empire。　　Canada　ought　to　have　a　Navy　and　quick。　　She　ought　to　take　her　share　of　the　burden　of　defence。　　But　I　agree　here　with　Laurier。　I　believe　her　ships　should　be　under　her　own　control。　　For　after　all　only　the　Canadian　Government　has　the　right　to　speak　the　word　that　sends　them　out　to　war。　　Of　course；　when　once　Canada　hands　them　over　to　the　Imperial　Navy；　they　will　fall　into　line　and　take　their　orders　from　the　Admiral　that　commands　the　fleet。　　Do　you　know　I　believe　that　Laurier　is　right　in　sticking　out　for　autonomy。〃

〃I　am　awfully　interested　in　what　you　say；　and　I　don't　believe　we　are　so　far　apart。　　It's　a　thousand　pities　they　did　not　keep　together　in　the　Commons。　　They　could　easily　have　worked　it　out。〃

〃Yes；　it　was　a　beastly　shame；〃　replied　Ross。

〃But　isn't　it　rather　queer；〃　said　Monteith；　〃and　isn't　it　significant；　too？　　Here　I　am；　born　in　Canada；　sticking　out　against　reciprocity　and　anxious　to　guard　our　Imperial　connection　and　ready　to　hand　our　Navy　clean　over　to　the　Imperial　authorities；　and　on　the　other　hand；　there　you　are；　born　in　the　Old　Country；　you　don't　appear　to　care　a　darn　about　Imperial　connections。　　You　let　that　take　care　of　itself；　and　you　stick　up　for　Canadian　autonomy　to　the　limit。〃

〃Well；　for　one　thing；〃　replied　Ross；　〃we　ought　to　get　together　on　the　Navy　business。　　On　the　trade　question　we　represent；　of　course；　two　schools　of　economics；　but　we　ought　not　to　mix　up　the　flag　with　our　freight。　　This　flag…flapping　business　makes　me　sick。〃

〃There　you　are　again；〃　said　Monteith。　　〃Here　I　am；　born　right　here　in　the　West；　and　yet　I　believe　in　all　the　flag…flapping　you　can　bring　about　and　right　here　in　this　country　too。　　Why；　you　know　how　it　is　with　these　foreigners；　Ruthenians；　Russians；　Germans；　Poles。　Do　you　know　that　in　large　sections　of　this　western　country　the　foreign　vote　controls　the　election？　　I　believe　we　ought　to　take　every　means　to　teach　them　to　love　the　flag　and　shout　for　it　too。　Oh；　I　know　you　Old　Country　chaps。　　You　take　the　flag　for　granted；　and　despise　this　flag…raising　business。　　Let　me　tell　you　something。　I　went　across　to　Oregon　a　little　while　ago　and　saw　someth