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〃Some　time；　Miss　Gwynne；　we　shall　have　this　out；　and　I　have　some　literature　on　the　subject　that　I　should　like　to　give　you。〃

〃And　so　have　I；〃　cried　the　girl；　with　a　smile　that　rendered　Mr。　Romayne　for　some　moments　quite　incapable　of　consecutive　thought。　〃And　now　shall　we　look　up　the　others？〃

At　the　dump　they　found　Joe　and　Sam　rolling　the　logs；　which　during　the　winter　had　been　piled　high　upon　the　bank；　down　the　steep　declivity　or　〃dump〃　into　the　stream　below。　　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　and　Nora　were　seated　on　a　log　beside　them　engaged　in　talk。

〃May　I　inquire　if　you　are　bossing　the　job　as　usual？〃　said　Mr。　Romayne；　after　he　had　watched　the　operation　for　a　few　moments。

〃Oh；　no；　there's　no　bossing　going　on　to…day。　　But；〃　said　the　girl；　〃I　rather　think　the　boys　like　to　have　me　around。〃

〃I　don't　wonder；〃　said　Mr。　Romayne；　enthusiastically。

〃Are　you　making　fun　of　me；　Mr。　Romayne？〃　said　the　girl；　her　face　indicating　that　she　was　prepared　for　battle。

〃God　forbid；〃　replied　Mr。　Romayne；　fervently。

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；　Nora　dear；〃　said　his　sister。　　〃He　is　simply　consumed　with　envy。　　He　has　just　come　from　a　country；　you　know；　where　only　the　men　do　things；　I　mean　things　that　really　count。　　And　it　makes　him　furiously　jealous　to　see　a　young　woman　calmly　doing　things　that　he　knows　quite　well　he　could　not　attempt　to　do。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　replied　her　brother。　　〃I　am　humbled　to　the　ground　at　my　own　all　to　obvious　ineptitude；　and　am　lost　in　admiration　of　the　marvellous　efficiency　of　the　young　ladies　of　Canada　whom　it　has　been　my　good　fortune　to　meet。〃

Nora　glanced　at　him　suspiciously。　　〃You　talk　well；〃　she　said。　　〃I　half　believe　you're　just　making　fun　of　us。〃

〃Not　a　bit；　Nora；　not　a　bit；〃　said　his　sister。　　〃It　is　as　I　have　said　before。　　The　man　is　as　jealous　as　he　can　be；　and；　like　all　men；　he　hates　to　discover　himself　inferior　in　any　particular　to　a　woman。　　But　we　must　be　going。　　I　am　so　glad　you　are　home　again；　dear；〃　she　said；　turning　to　Kathleen。　　〃We　shall　hope　to　see　a　great　deal　of　you。　　Thank　you　for　the　delightful　lunch。　　It　was　so　good　of　you　to　have　us。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　added　the　young　man。　　〃You　saved　my　life。　　I　had　just　about　reached　the　final　stage　of　exhaustion。　　I；　too；　hope　to　see　you　again　very　soon　and　often；　for　you　know　we　must　finish　that　discussion　and　settle　that　question。〃

〃What　question　is　that；〃　inquired　his　sister；　〃if　I　may　ask？〃

〃Oh；　the　old　question；〃　said　her　brother；　〃the　eternal　question　war。〃

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Nora；　〃Kathleen　has　been　giving　you　some　of　her　peace　talk。　　I　want　you　to　know；　Mr。　Romayne；　that　I　don't　agree　with　her　in　the　least；　and　I　am　quite　sure　you　don't　either。〃

〃I　am　not　so　sure　of　that；〃　replied　the　young　man。　　〃We　have　not　finished　it　out　yet。　　I　feel　confident；　however；　that　we　shall　come　to　an　agreement　on　it。〃

〃I　hope　not；〃　replied　Nora；　〃for　in　that　case　you　would　become　a　pacifist；　for　Kathleen；　just　like　mother；　you　know；　is　a　terrible　peace　person。　　Indeed；　our　family　is　divided　on　that　question　Daddy　and　I　opposed　to　the　rest。　　And　you　know　pacifists　have　this　characteristic；　that　they　are　always　ready　to　fight。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　her　sister。　　〃We　are　always　ready　to　fight　for　peace。　But　do　not　let　us　get　into　that　discussion　now。　　I　shall　walk　with　you　a　little　way。〃

Arm　in　arm　she　and　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　walked　down　the　steep　trail；　Mr。　Romayne　following　behind；　leading　the　horses。　　As　they　walked　together；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　talked　to　the　girl　of　her　brother。

〃You　know　he　was　in　the　Diplomatic　Service；　went　in　after　the　South　African　War；　and　did　awfully　well　there　in　the　reconstruction　work；　was　very　popular　with　the　Boers；　though　he　had　fought　them　in　the　war。　　He　got　to　know　their　big　men；　and　some　of　them　are　really　big　men。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　became　very　fond　of　them　and　helped　the　Government　at　Home　to　see　things　from　their　point　of　view。　After　that　he　went　to　the　Continent；　was　in　Italy　for　a　while　and　then　in　Germany；　where；　I　believe；　he　did　very　good　work。　　He　saw　a　good　deal　of　the　men　about　the　Kaiser。　　He　loathed　the　Crown　Prince；　I　believe；　as　most　of　our　people　there　do。　　Suddenly　he　was　recalled。　　He　refused；　of　course；　to　talk　about　it；　but　I　understand　there　was　some　sort　of　a　row。　　I　believe　he　lost　his　temper　with　some　exalted　personage。　　At　any　rate；　he　was　recalled；　chucked　the　whole　service；　and　came　out　here。　　He　felt　awfully　cut　up　about　it。　　And　now　he　has　no　faith　in　the　German　Government；　says　they　mean　war。　　He's　awfully　keen　on　preparation　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　I　thought　I　would　just　tell　you；　especially　since　I　heard　you　had　been　discussing　war　with　him。〃

As　they　neared　the　Switzer　place　they　saw　a　young　man　standing　on　the　little　pier　which　jutted　out　into　the　stream　with　a　pike…pole　in　his　hand；　keeping　the　logs　from　jambing　at　the　turn。

〃It's　Ernest　Switzer；〃　cried　Kathleen。　　〃I　have　not　seen　him　for　ever　so　long。　　How　splendidly　he　is　looking！　　Hello；　Ernest！〃　she　cried；　waving　her　hand　and　running　forward　to　meet　him；　followed　by　the　critical　eyes　of　Jack　Romayne。

The　young　man　came　hurrying　toward　her。　　〃Kathleen！〃　he　cried。　　〃Is　it　really　you？〃　　He　threw　down　his　pole　as　he　spoke　and　took　her　hand　in　both　of　his；　the　flush　on　his　fair　face　spreading　to　the　roots　of　his　hair。

〃You　know　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；〃　said　Kathleen　to　him；　for　he　paid　no　attention　at　all　to　the　others。　　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　acknowledged　Switzer's　heel　clicks；　as　also　did　her　brother　when　introduced。

〃You　have　been　keeping　the　logs　running；　Ernest；　I　see。　　That　is　very　good　of　you；〃　said　Kathleen。

〃Yes；　there　was　the　beginning　of　a　nice　little　jamb　here；〃　said　Switzer。　　〃They　are　running　right　enough　now。　　But　when　did　you　return？〃　he　continued；　dropping　into　a　confidential　tone　and　turning　his　back　upon　the　others。　　〃Do　you　know　I　have　not　seen　you　for　nine　months？〃

〃Nine　months？〃　said　Kathleen。　　〃I　was　away　seven　months。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　was　away　two　months　before　you　went。　　You　forget　that；〃　he　added　reproachfully。　　〃But　I　do　not　forget。　　Nine　monthsnine　long　months。　　And　are　you　glad　to　be　back；　Kathleen；　glad　to　see　all　your　friends　again；　glad　to　see　me？〃

〃I　am　glad　to　be　at　home；　Ernest；　glad　to　see　all　of　my　friends；　of　course；　glad　to　get　to　the　West　again；　to　the　woods　here　and　the　mountains　and　all。〃

〃And　you　did　not　come　in　to　see　us　as　you　passed；〃　gazing　at　her　with　reproachful　eyes　and　edging　her　still　further　away　from　the　others。

〃Oh；　we　intended　to　come　in　on　our　way　back。〃

〃Let's　move　on；〃　said　Romayne　to　his　sister。

〃We　must　be　going；　Kathleen　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃You　will　soon　be　coming　to　see　us？〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　you　may　be　sure。　　It　is　so　good　to　see　you；〃　replied　the　girl　warmly；　as　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　kissed　her　good…bye。　　〃Good…　bye；　Mr。　Romayne；　we　must　finish　our　discussion　another　time。〃

〃Always　at　your　service；〃　replied　Mr。　Romayne；　〃although　I　am　rather　afraid　of　you。　　Thank　you　again　for　your　hospitality。　　Good…　bye。〃　　He　held　her　hand；　looking　down　into　the　blue　depths　of　her　eyes　until　as　before　the　crimson　in　her　face　recalled　him。　　〃Good…　bye。　　This　has　been　a　wonderful　day　to　me。〃　　He　mounted　his　horse；　lifted　his　hat；　and　rode　off　after　his　sister。

〃What　sort　of　a　chap　is　the　Johnnie？〃　said　Jack　to　his　sister　as　they　rode　away。

〃Not　a　bad　sort　at　all；　very　bright　fellow；　quite　popular　in　this　community　with　the　young　fellows。　　He　has　lots　of　money；　you　know；　and　spends　it。　　Of　course；　he　is　fearfully　German；　military　style　and　all　that。〃

〃Seems　to　own　that　girl；　eh？〃　said　Jack；　glancing　back　over　his　shoulder　at　the　pair。

〃Oh；　the　two　families　are　quite　intimate。　　Ernest　and　his　sister　were　in　Larry's　musical　organisations　and　they　are　quite　good　friends。〃

〃By　Jove；　Sybil；　she　is　wonderful！　　Why　didn't　you　give　me　a　hint？〃

〃I　did。　　But　really；　she　has　come　on　amazingly。　　That　college　in　Winnipeg〃

〃Oh；　college！　　It　is　not　a　question　of　college！〃　said　her　brother　impatiently。　　〃It's　herself。　　Why；　Sybil；　think　of　that　girl　in　London　in　a　Worth　frock。　　But　no！　　That　would　spoil　her。　　She　is　better　just　as　she　is。　　Jove；　she　completely　knocked　me　out！　　I　made　a　fool　of　myself。〃

〃She　has　changed　indeed；〃　said　his　sister。　　〃She　is　a　lovely　girl　and　so　simple　and　unaffected。　　I　have　come　really　to　love　her。　　We　must　see　a　lot　of　her。〃

〃But　where　did　she　get　that　perfectly　charming　manner？　　Do　you　realise　what　a　perfectly　stunning　girl　she　is？　　Where　did　she　get　that　style　of　hers？〃

〃You　must　see　her　mother；　Jack。　　She　is　a　charming　woman；　simple；　quiet；　a　Quaker；　I　believe；　but　quite　beautiful　manners。　　Her　father；　too；　is　a　gentleman；　a　Trinity　man；　I　understand。〃

〃Well；〃　said　her　brother　with　a　laugh；　〃I　foresee　myself　falling　in　love　with　that　girl　in　the　most　approved　style。〃

〃You　might　do　worse；〃　replied　his　sister；　〃though　I　doubt　if　you　are　not　too　late。〃

〃Why？　　That　German　Johnnie？〃

〃Well；　it　is　never　wise　to　despise　the　enemy。　　He　really　is　a　fine　chap；　his　prospects　are　very　good；　he　has　known　her　for　a　long　while；　and　he　is　quite　mad　about　her。〃

〃But；　good　Lord；　Sybil；　he's　a　German！〃

〃A　German；〃　said　his　sister；　〃yes。　　But　what　difference　does　that　make？　　He　is　a　German；　but　he　is　also　a　Canadian。　　We　are