ignity. "I believe they used to be patients of Dr Henry's till he got
up in years, but they don't call in Harry."

"Maybe that's what there is about them," said Mr Murchison, innocently.

"Father's made up his mind," announced Dr Harry, and they waited,
breathless. There could be only one point upon which Dr Henry could be
dubitating at that moment.

"He's going to vote for Lorne."

"He's a lovely old darling!" cried Stella. "Good for Dr Henry Johnson! I
knew he would."

The rest were silent with independence and gratification. Dr Henry's
Conservatism had been supposed to be invincible. Dr Harry they thought
a fair prey to Murchison influence, and he had capitulated early, but he
had never promised to answer for his father.

"Yes, he's taken his time about it, and he's consulted about all the
known authorities," said his son, humorously. "Went right back to the
Manchester school to begin with--sat out on the verandah reading Cobden
and Bright the whole summer; if anybody came for advice sent 'em in to
me. I did a trade, I tell you! He thought they talked an awful lot of
sense, those fellows--from the English point of view. 'D'ye mean to tell
me,' he'd say, 'that a generation born and bred in political doctrine
of that sort is going to hold on to the colonies at a sacrifice? They'd
rather let 'em go at a sacrifice!' Well, then he got to reading the
other side of the question, and old Ormiston lent him Parkin, and he
lent old Ormiston Goldwin Smith, and then he subscribed to the Times for
six months--the bill must have nearly bust him; and then the squire went
over without waiting for him and without any assistance from the Times
either; and finally--well, he says that if it's good enough business for
the people of England it's good enough business for him. Only he keeps
on worrying about the people of England, and whether they'll make enough
by it to keep them contented, till he can't next month all right, he
wants it to be distinctly understood that family connection has nothing
to do with it."

"Of course it hasn't," Advena said.

"But we're just as much obliged," remarked Stella.

"A lot of our church people are going to stay at home election day,"
declared Abby; "they won't vote for Lorne, and they won't vote against
imperialism, so they'll just sulk. Silly, I call it."

"Good enough business for us," said Alec.

"Well, what I want to know is," said Mrs Murchison, "whether you are
coming to the church yo