Four Canadian Highwaymen | Page 4

and clover, and some cunning as to the tricks
of breachy cattle? Now wherefore should I not marry Mr. Ham? Do I
know more about the English authors, or about the French ones than he
does? Am I more gifted in mathematical insight; or do I know more
about the history of kings and ancient wars? I can paint the merest bit;
and my music is attuned for little else than the heavy heels of rustic
swains and clumsy lasses. Now, Mr. Ham is more skilled in painting
than I, and more learned in all things acquired from books: pray where,
then, is the force of your objection to this joining of hands and farms
upon intellectual grounds?'
'I think you miss my meaning, Aster. You cannot sum up the
superiority of character by counting the items as you "take stock" in a
tradesman's store. The highest and most captivating points in human
character, especially in a woman's, often have such an evasive subtlety
of outline that you can no more define them than you could the
message which some blossom, blooming in a wild, far place, has for
the human heart as you stoop over it to drink its perfume, and gloat
upon its beauty. But you ask me to be definite: will you take offence, if,
upon some points which present themselves to me, I become quite
definite?'
'Not by any means, Mr. Gray. I am very anxious to hear everything that

you have to say.'
'Well, Aster, I do not admire your friend, Mr. Ham. I think he is a
coarse snob; and under an exterior of brusque frankness I believe he is
deceitful and--cowardly. I should consider your union with such a
person a monstrous sacrifice.'
'Would you have me wait until some man who reaches your ideal came
and asked father for my hand? Or would you have me advertise in
William Lyon Mackenzie's newspaper. Or, still another and final
alternative, would you have me bloom in this sweet place all my days
in celibacy?'
'I simply would not have you marry that person, Ham.'
'No other definite wish with respect to me?' Her head was bowed now,
and her mischievous, upward glance was very fascinating.
'I have; but I should prefer for the present to keep it to myself.'

CHAPTER II.
A GATHERING STORM.
'Oh! We had better go to dinner, then, had we not: I presume it is about
ready.'
'Stay, will you not wear this at dinner?' stooping for a pansy that
flourished among the late autumn blossoms.
'Keep if for remembrance when I am away.'
'Oh, but flowers fade; and I could only remember you for a couple of
days.'
'Why not press it between the leaves of a book?'

'Oh, I will do that; and I will remember your lecture every time that I
open the volume.'
'Thank you; but if you can't think a little bit about myself, I don't want
you to bother about my lecture. You can feast yourself in
contemplation of your loud and gorgeous friend, Mr. Ham.'
They had entered the house: and at the same moment Asters father and
Mr. Ham came in. It was quite plain that these two men were
confidential friends; for as they entered the room the host had his arm
within that of his guest, and both were so engrossed in their
subject--talking in a low tone--that they seemed for a time unconscious
of the presence of Aster and Roland. When the host did raise his head
he simply gave a cold bow to Roland; and then bestowed a sharp
glance upon his daughter. Nor was the rudeness of the host to end here.
Turning his back upon Roland he said:
'Mr. Ham and I have been discussing the Marsh, and he thinks that I
had better go on with the drainage.'
'It will bring in two years all the money expended in reclaiming it,' put
in Mr. Ham. 'Don't you think so, Aster?'
'I don't know, Mr. Ham; I really know very little about such matters.' At
this juncture Roland's temper was asserting itself under the slight by the
rude parent; so he stepped in among the trio, and looking the girl in the
face, said:
'You are quite right, Aster, not to bother your head about bogs and
swamps. Let the men attend to all that.' The father was simply amazed;
and drawing himself up to his full height he frowned upon the young
man. He said nothing, however, and to break the embarrassing silence
Aster chimed in:
'I suppose that the city girls of your acquaintance never meddle in such
matters; but the truth is, papa always consults me about these things.'
'In the city,' retorted her father, stiffly, 'young women have other

concerns; but a girl who