Jim Fawkes come that howler
over Pink River, they'll have their work cut out for them to find a man.
I hear Fawkes takes it hard, after all he's done for 'em, not to get the
nomination, but they won't hear of it. Quite right, too; he's let too
many people in over that concession of his to be popular, even among his
friends."

"I suppose he has. Dropped anything there yourself?--No? Nor I. When a
thing gets to the boom stage I say let it alone, even if there's gold in
it and you've got a School of Mines man to tell you so. Fawkes came out
of it at the small end himself, I expect, but that doesn't help him any
in the eyes of businessmen."

"I hear," said Walter Winter, stroking his nose, "that old man Parsons
has come right over since the bosses at Ottawa have put so much money
on preference trade with the old country. He says he was a Liberal once,
and may be a Liberal again, but he doesn't see his way to voting to give
his customers blankets cheaper than he can make them, and he'll wait
till the clouds roll by."

"He won't be the only one, either," said Milburn. "Take my word for
it, they'll be dead sick and sorry over this imperial craze in a year's
time, every Government that's taken it up. The people won't have it. The
Empire looks nice on the map, but when it comes to practical politics
their bread and butter's in the home industries. There's a great
principle at stake, Winter; I must say I envy you standing up for it
under such favourable conditions. Liberals like Young and Windle may
talk big, but when it comes to the ballot-box you'll have the whole
manufacturing interest of the place behind you, and nobody the wiser.
It's a great thing to carry the standard on an issue above and beyond
party politics--it's a purer air, my boy."

Walter Winter's nod confirmed the sagacity of this, and appreciated the
highmindedness. It was a parting nod; Mr Winter had too much on hand
that morning to waste time upon Octavius Milburn; but it was full of the
qualities that ensure the success of a man's relation with his fellows.
Consideration was in it, and understanding, and that kind of geniality
that offers itself on a plain business footing, a commercial heartiness
that has no nonsense about it. He had half a dozen casual chats like
this with Mr Milburn on his way up Main Street, and his manner expanded
in cordiality and respect with each, as if his growing confidence in
himself increased his confidence in his fellow-men.