ocession and the pace is leisurely. In
Canada the chances come every day, and the man that's ready jumps in and
wins."

"Ah, I see!" exclaimed Miss Brodie. "There are more ladders by which to
climb."

"Yes," cried Martin, "and fewer men on them."

"But," argued Dunn, "there are other causes of failure in this country.
Many a young fellow, for instance, cannot get a congenial position."

"Yes," replied Martin quickly, "because you won't let him; your caste
law forbids. With us a man can do anything decent and no one thinks the
less of him."

"Ah, I see!" again cried Miss Brodie, more eagerly than before. "Not
only more ladders, but more kinds of ladders."

"Exactly," said Martin with an approving glance. "And he must not be too
long in the choosing."

"Then, Mr. Martin," said Mr. Rae, "what would you suggest for our young
friend?"

But this Martin refused to answer.

"Surely there are openings for a young fellow in Canada," said Dunn.
"Take a fellow like myself. What could I do?"

"You?" cried Martin, his eyes shining with loving enthusiasm. "There are
doors open on every business street in every town and city in Canada for
you, or for any fellow who has brain or brawn to sell and who will take
any kind of a job and stay with it."

"Well, what job, for instance?"

"What job?" cried Martin. "Heaps of them."

At this point a diversion was created by the entrance of "Lily"
Laughton. Both Martin and Dunn envied the easy grace of his manner, his
perfect self-possession, as he greeted each member of the company.
For each he had exactly the right word. Miss Brodie he greeted with an
exaggerated devotion, but when he shook hands with Dunn there was no
mistaking the genuine warmth of his affection.

"Heard you were home, old chap, so I couldn't help dropping in. Of
course I knew that Mrs. Dunn would be sure to be here, and I more than
suspected that my dear Miss Brodie," here he swept her an elaborate bow,
"whom I discovered to be away from her own home, might be found in this
pleasant company."

"Yes, I fear that my devotion to her youngest boy is leading me to
overstep the bounds of even Mrs. Dunn's vast and generous hospitality."

"Not a bit, my dear," replied Mrs. Dunn kindly. "You bring sunshine with
you, and you do us all good."

"Exactly my sentiments!" exclaimed "Lily" with enthusiasm. "But what are
you all doing? Just having a 'collyshog'?"

For a moment no one replied; then Dunn said, "We were ju