“Oh, yes, Lady Mary. That is true and so many things die with them, as, for instance, our youthful beliefs and enthusiasms. I used to believe in every one, Lady Mary.” “And now in no one?” “God forbid! I discriminate.” “Now, Lady Mary,” replied Maimie, “I want my lion to be led about and exhibited, and I give him over to you.” For some time Ranald stood near, chatting to two or three people to whom Lady Mary had introduced him, but listening eagerly all the while to Maimie talking to the men who were crowded about her. How brilliantly she talked, finding it quite within her powers to keep several men busy at the same time; and as Ranald listened to her gay, frivolous talk, more and more he became conscious of an unpleasantness in her tone. It was thin, shallow, and heartless. “Can it be possible,” he said to himself, “that once she had the power to make my heart quicken its beat?” “Tell me about the West,” Lady Mary was saying, when Ranald came to himself. “If I begin about the West,” he replied, “I must have both time and space to deliver myself.” “Come, then. We shall find a corner,” said Lady Mary, and for half an hour did Ranald discourse to her of the West, and so eloquently that Lady Mary quite forgot that he was a lion and that she had been intrusted with the duty of exhibiting him. By and by Maimie found them. “Now, Lady Mary, you are very selfish, for so many people are wanting to see our hero, and here is the premier wanting to see you.” “Ah, Lady Mary,” said Sir John, “you have captured the man from Glengarry, I see.” “I hope so, indeed,” said Lady Mary; “but why from Glengarry? He is from the West, is he not?” “Once from Glengarry, now from the West, and I hope he will often come from the West, and he will, no doubt, if those people know what is good for them.” And Sir John, skillfully drawing Ranald aside, led him to talk of the political situation in British Columbia, now and then putting a question that revealed a knowledge so full and accurate that Ranald exclaimed, suddenly, “Why, Sir John, you know more about the country than I do!” “Not at all, not at all,” replied Sir John; and then, lowering his voice to a confidential tone, he added, “You are the first man from that country that knows what I want to know.” And once more he plied Ranald with questions, listening eagerly and intelligently to the answers so enthusiastically given. “We want to make this Dominion a great empire,” said Sir John, as he said good by to Ranald, “and we are going to do it, but you and men like you in the West must do your part.” Ranald was much impressed by the premier's grave earnestness. “I will try, Sir John,” he said, “and I shall go back feeling thankful that you are going to show us the way.” “Going so soon?” said Maimie, when he came to say good by. “Why I have seen nothing of you, and I have not had a moment to offer you my congratulations,” she said, with a significant smile. Ranald bowed his thanks.