had passed since I had last seen my old Tarn Regis playmate.

Stairs introduced me to his friend, Reynolds, and I learned the curious
fact that this comrade and chum of my old friend's was also a parson,
but not of Stairs's church. Reynolds had qualified at a theological
training college in Ontario, and had been Congregational minister in the
parish of which Stairs had been vicar for the last three years.

There was a big table in the middle of the room, littered over with
papers and writing materials. About this table we presently all found
seats.

"Now look here, my friends," said John Crondall, "this is no time for
ceremoniousness, apologies, and the rest of it, and I'm not going to
indulge in any. No doubt we've all of us got special interests of our
own, but there's one we all share; and it comes first with all of us, I
think. We all want the same thing for England and the Empire, and we all
want to do what we can to help. It's because of that I dismiss the
ceremonies, and don't say anything about the fear of boring you, and all
that. I don't even make exceptions of you, Stairs, or you, Reynolds. I
tell you quite frankly I want to poke and pry into your plans. I want to
know all about 'em. I've sense enough to see that you wield a big
influence. I am certain I have your sympathy in my aims. And I want to
find out how far I can make your aims help my aims. All I know is that
you have addressed three meetings, each bigger than the last; and that
your preaching is the real right thing. Now I want you to tell us as
much as you will about your plans. You know we are all friends here."

Stairs looked at Reynolds, and Reynolds nodded at Stairs.

"Well," said the latter, smiling, first at Crondall, and then at me,
"our plans are simplicity itself. In Canada we have not risen yet to the
cultivation of much diplomacy. We don't understand anything of your high
politics, and we don't believe in roundabout methods. For instance, I
suppose here in England you don't find parsons of one denomination
working in partnership much with parsons of another denomination. Well,
now, when I took over from my predecessor at Kootenay, I found my friend
Reynolds doing a fine work there, among the farmers and miners, as
Congregational minister. He was doing precisely the work I wanted to do;
but there was only one of him. Was I to fight shy of him, or set to
work, as it were, in opposition to him? Well, anyhow, that didn't seem
to me the