s 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