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the Ottawas with Harry and Lieutenant De Lacy； from their perilous
position。
The girls had the story from Harry's lips； and in his telling of it；
Ranald's courage and skill certainly lost nothing； but to Maimie；
while it was pleasant enough for her to hear of Ranald's prowess；
and while she enjoyed the reflected glory that came to her as his
friend； the whole incident became altogether hateful and distressing。
She found herself suddenly famous in her social world； every one was
talking of her； but to her horror； was connecting Ranald's name with
her's in a most significant way。 It was too awful； and if her Aunt
Frances should hear of it； the consequences would be quite too
terrible for her to imagine。 She must stop the talk at once。 Of
course she meant to be kind to Ranald； he had done her great service；
and he was her Aunt Murray's friend； and besides； she liked him； how
much she hardly cared to say to herself。 She had liked him in
Glengarry。 There was no doubt of that； but that was two years ago；
and in Glengarry everything was different！ There every one was just
as good as another； and these people were all her Aunt Murray's
friends。 Here the relations were changed。 She could not help
feeling that however nice he might be； and however much she might
like him； Ranald was not of her world。
〃Well； tell him so； let him see that；〃 said Kate； with whom Maimie
was discussing her difficulty。
〃Yes； and then he would fly off and Iwe would never see him
again；〃 said Maimie。 〃He's as proud asany one！〃
〃Strange； too；〃 said Kate； 〃when he has no money to speak of！〃
〃You know I don't mean that； and I don't think it's very nice of
you。 You have no sympathy with me！〃
〃In what way？〃
〃Well； in this very unpleasant affair； every one is talking about
Ranald and me； as if Ias if we had some understanding。〃
〃And have you not？ I thought〃 Kate hesitated to remind Maimie
of certain confidences she had received two years ago after her
friend had returned from Glengarry。
〃Oh； absurdjust a girl and boy affair；〃 said Maimie； impatiently。
〃Then there's nothing at all；〃 said Kate； with a suspicion of
eagerness in her voice。
〃No； of course notthat is； nothing really serious。〃
〃Serious？ You mean you don't care for him at all？〃 Kate looked
straight at her friend。
〃Oh； you are so awfully direct。 I don't know。 I do care； he's
nice in many ways； and he'sI know he likes me andI would hate
to wound him； but then you know he's not just one of us。 You know
what I mean！〃
〃Not exactly；〃 said Kate； quietly。 〃Do you mean he is not educated？〃
〃Oh； no； I don't mean education altogether。 How very tiresome you
are！ He has no culture； and manners； and that sort of thing。〃
〃I think he has very fine manners。 He is a little quaint； but you
can't call him rude。〃
〃Oh； no； he's never rude； rather abrupt； but oh； dear； don't you
know？ What would Aunt Frank say to him？〃
Kate's lip curled a little。 〃I'm very sure I can't say； but I can
imagine how she would look。〃
〃Well； that's it〃
〃But；〃 went on Kate； 〃I can imagine； too； how Ranald would look
back at her if he caught her meaning。〃
〃Well； perhaps；〃 said Maimie； with a little laugh； 〃and that's just
it。 Oh； I wish he were〃
〃A lieutenant？〃 suggested Kate。
〃Well； yes； I do；〃 said Maimie； desperately。
〃And if he were； you would marry him；〃 said Kate； a shade of contempt
in her tone that Maimie failed to notice。
〃Yes； I would。〃
Kate remained silent。
〃There now； you think I am horrid； I know；〃 said Maimie。 〃I suppose
you would marry him if he were a mere nobody！〃
〃If I loved him；〃 said Kate； with slow deliberation； and a slight
tremor in her voice； 〃I'd marry him if he werea shantyman！〃
〃I believe you would；〃 said Maimie； with a touch of regret in her
voice； 〃but then； you've no Aunt Frank！〃
〃Thank Providence；〃 replied Kate； under her breath。
〃And I'm sure I don't want to offend her。 Just listen to this。〃
Maimie pulled out a letter； and turning over the pages； found the
place and began to read： 〃'I am so glad to hear that you are
enjoying your stay in Quebec'um…um…um'fine old city'um…um…um
'gates and streets；' 'old days'um…um…um'noble citadel；'
'glorious view'um…um…um…um'finest in the world'No； that isn't
itOh； yes； here it is： 'The De Lacys are a very highly connected
English family and very old friends of my friends； the Lord Archers；
with whom I visited in England； you know。 The mother is a dear old
ladyso stately and so very particularwith old…fashioned ideas
of breeding and manners； and of course； very wealthy。 Her house in
Quebec is said to be the finest in the Province； and there are some
English estates； I believe； in their line。 Lieutenant De Lacy is
her only son； and from what you say； he seems to be a very charming
young man。 He will occupy a very high place someday。 I suppose
Kate will'um…um…um'Oh yes； and if Mrs。 De Lacy wishes you to
visit her you might accept'um…um… um'and tell Kate that I should
be delighted if she could accompany me on a little jaunt through the
Eastern States。 I have asked permission of her father； but she
wrote you herself about that； didn't she？um…um…umAnd then listen
to this！ 'How very odd you should have come across the young man
from Glengarry againMac Lennon； is it？ Mac…something…or…other！
Your Aunt Murray seems to consider him a very steady and worthy
young man。 I hope he may not degenerate in his present circumstances
and calling； as so many of his class do。 I am glad your father was
able to do something for him。 These people ought to be encouraged。'
Now you see！〃 Maimie's tone was quite triumphant。
〃Yes；〃 said Kate！ 〃I do see！ These people should be encouraged to
make our timber for us that we may live in ease and luxury； and
even to save us from fire and from blood…thirsty mobs； as occasions
may offer； but as for friendships and that sort of thing〃
〃Oh； Kate；〃 burst in Maimie； almost in tears； 〃you are so very
unkind。 You know quite well what I mean。〃
〃Yes； I know quite well； you would not invite Ranald； for instance；
to dine at your house； to meet your Aunt Frank and the Evanses and
the Langfords and the Maitlands；〃 said Kate； spacing her words with
deliberate indignation。
〃Well； I would not； if you put it in that way；〃 said Maimie；
petulantly； 〃and you wouldn't either！〃
〃I would ask him to meet every Maitland of them if I could；〃 said
Kate； 〃and it wouldn't hurt them either。〃
〃Oh； you are so peculiar；〃 said Maimie； with a sigh of pity。
〃Am I；〃 said Kate； 〃ask Harry；〃 she continued； as that young man
came into the room。
〃No； you needn't mind；〃 said Maimie； 〃I know well he will just side
with you。 He always does。〃
〃How very amiable of me；〃 said Harry； 〃but what's the particular
issue？〃
〃Ranald；〃 said Kate。
〃Then I agree at once。 Besides； he is coming to supper next Sunday
evening！〃
〃Oh； Harry；〃 exclaimed Maimie； in dismay； 〃on Sunday evening？〃
〃He can't get off any other night； works all night； I believe； and
would work all Sunday； too； if his principles didn't mercifully
interfere。 He will be boss of the concern before summer is over。〃
〃Oh； Harry；〃 said Maimie； in distress； 〃and I asked Lieutenant De
Lacy and his friend； Mr。 Sims； for Sunday evening〃
〃Sims；〃 cried Harry； 〃little cad！〃
〃I'm sure he's very nice；〃 said Maimie； 〃and his family〃
〃Oh； hold up； don't get on to your ancestor worship；〃 cried Harry；
impatiently。 〃Anyway； Ranald's coming up Sunday evening。〃
〃Well； it will be very awkward；〃 said Maimie。
〃I don't see why；〃 said Kate。
〃Oh；〃 cried Harry； scornfully； 〃he will have on his red flannel
shirt and a silk handkerchief； and his trousers will be in his
boots； that's what Maimie is thinking of！〃
〃You are very rude； Harry；〃 said Maimie。 〃You know quite well that
Ranald will not enjoy himself with the others。 He has nothing in
common with them。〃
〃Oh； I wouldn't worry about that Maimie；〃 said Kate； 〃I will talk
to Ranald。〃 But Maimie was not quite sure how she should like
that。
〃You are just your Aunt Frank over again；〃 said Harry； in a
disgusted tone； 〃clothes and people！〃
Maimie was almost in tears。
〃I think you are both very unkind。 You know Ranald won't enjoy it。
He will be quite miserable； andthey'll just laugh at him！〃
〃Well； they'd better laugh at him when he isn't observing；〃 said
Harry。
〃Do you think Ranald would really mind？〃 interposed Kate； addressing
Harry。 〃Do you think he will feel shy and awkward？ Perhaps we'd
better have him another evening。〃
〃No；〃 said Harry； decidedly； 〃he is coming； and he's coming on
Sunday evening。 He can't get off any other night； and besides； I'd
have to lie to him； and he has an unpleasant way of finding you out
when you are doing it； and once he does find out why he is not
asked for Sunday evening； then you may say good by to him for good
and all。〃
〃Oh； no fear of that；〃 said Maimie； confidently； 〃Ranald has good
sense； and I know he will come again。〃
〃Well；〃 cried Harry； 〃if you are not going to treat him as you
would treat De Lacy and that idiotic Sims； I won't bring him！〃 And
with that he flung out of the room。
But H