histles at
once let off, so to speak, the hour. Elgin liked the demonstration; it
was held to be cheerful and unmistakable, an indication of "go-ahead"
proclivities which spoke for itself. It occurred while yet Dr Drummond
and Mr Murchison stood together in the store door.

"I must be getting on," said the minister, looking at his watch. "And
what news have you of Lorne?"

"Well, he seems to have got through all right."

"What--you've heard already, then?"

"He telegraphed from Toronto on Saturday night." Mr Murchison stroked
his chin, the better to retain his satisfaction. "Waste of money--the
post would have brought it this morning--but it pleased his mother. Yes,
he's through his Law Schools examination, and at the top, too, as far as
I can make out."

"Dear me, and you never mentioned it!" Dr Drummond spoke with the
resigned impatience of a familiar grievance. It was certainly a trying
characteristic of John Murchison that he never cared about communicating
anything that might seem to ask for congratulation. "Well, well! I'm
very glad to hear it."

"It slipped my mind," said Mr Murchison. "Yes, he's full-fledged
'barrister and solicitor' now; he can plead your case or draw you up a
deed with the best of them. Lorne's made a fair record, so far. We've no
reason to be ashamed of him."

"That you have not." Personal sentiments between these two Scotchmen
were indicated rather than indulged. "He's going in with Fulke and
Warner, I suppose--you've got that fixed up?"

"Pretty well. Old man Warner was in this morning to talk it over. He
says they look to Lorne to bring them in touch with the new generation.
It's a pity he lost that son of his."

"Oh, a great pity. But since they had to go outside the firm they
couldn't have done better; they couldn't have done better. I hope Lorne
will bring them a bit of Knox Church business too; there's no reason why
Bob Mackintosh should have it all. They'll be glad to see him back at
the Hampden Debating Society. He's a great light there, is Lorne; and
the Young Liberals, I hear are wanting him for chairman this year."

"There's some talk of it. But time enough--time enough for that! He'll
do first-rate if he gets the law to practise, let alone the making of
it."

"Maybe so; he's young yet. Well, good morning to you. I'll just step
over the way to the Express office and get a proof out of them of
that sermon of mine. I noticed their reporter fellow--what's his
name?--Ra