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streaming down their faces。 A nobler spirit seemed to fall upon
them all。 In the silence that followed； Mr。 Maitland rose。
〃Mr。 Mayor；〃 he said quietly； 〃we have all suffered together in
this war。 I； for one； want to do the fair thing by our men。 Let
us meet them and talk things over before any fair…minded committee。
Surely we who have suffered together in war can work together in
peace。〃 It was a noble appeal； and met with a noble response。 On
all sides and from all parties a storm of cheers broke forth。
Then the Reverend Murdo Matheson rose to his feet。 〃Mr。 Mayor；〃 he
said； 〃I confess I was not hopeful of the result of this meeting。
But I am sure we all recognise the presence and influence of a
mightier Spirit than ours。 From the outset I have been convinced
that the problems in the industrial situation here are not beyond
solution； and should yield to fair and reasonable consideration。 I
venture to move that a committee of five be appointed； two to be
chosen by each of the parties in this dispute； who would in turn
choose a chairman； that this committee meet with representatives of
both parties； and that their decision in all cases be final。〃
Mr。 Farrington rose and heartily seconded the motion。
At this point Jack； who was sitting near the platform and whose
eyes were wandering over the audience； was startled by the look on
the face of McNish。 It was a look in which mingled fear； anxiety；
wrath。 He seemed to be on the point of starting to his feet when
McGinnis broke in：
〃Do I understand that the decision of this committee is to be final
on every point？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the Reverend Murdo。 〃There is no other way by
which we can arrive at a decision。〃
〃Do you mean；〃 cried McGinnis； 〃that if this committee says I must
hire only union men in my foundry that I must do so？〃
〃I would reply；〃 said the Reverend Murdo； 〃that we must trust this
committee to act in a fair and reasonable way。〃
But Mr。 McGinnis was not satisfied with this answer。
〃I want to know；〃 he cried in growing anger； 〃I want to know
exactly where we are and I want a definite answer。 Will this
committee have the right to force me to employ only union men？〃
〃Mr。 Mayor；〃 replied the Reverend Murdo； 〃Mr。 McGinnis is right in
asking for definiteness。 My answer is that we must trust this
committee to do what is wise and reasonable； and we must accept
their decision as final in every case。〃
Thereupon McGinnis rose and expressed an earnest desire for a
tragic and unhappy and age…long fate if he would consent to any
such proposition。 With terrible swiftness the spirit of the
meeting was changed。 The moment of lofty emotion and noble impulse
passed。 The opportunity for reason and fair play to determine the
issue was lost； and the old evil spirit of suspicion and hate fell
upon the audience like a pall。
At this point McNish； from whose face all anxiety had disappeared；
rose and said：
〃For my part； and speaking for the working men of this town； I am
ready to accept the proposal that has been made。 We have no fear
for the justice of our demands like some men here present。 We know
we have the right on our side and we are willing to accept the
judgment of such a committee as has been proposed。〃 The words were
fair enough； but the tone of sneering contempt was so irritating
that immediately the position assumed by McGinnis received support
from his fellow employers on every hand。 Once more uproar ensued。
The mayor； in a state of angry excitement； sought in vain to
restore order。
After some minutes of heated altercation with Mr。 McGinnis； whom he
threatened with expulsion from the meeting； the mayor finally left
the chair and the meeting broke up in disorder which threatened to
degenerate into a series of personal encounters。
Again McNish took command。 Leaping upon a chair； with a loud voice
which caught at once the ears of his following； he announced that a
meeting was to be held immediately in the union rooms； and he
added： 〃When these men here want us again； they know where to find
us。〃 He was answered with a roar of approval； and with an ugly
smile on his face he led his people in triumph from the hall；
leaving behind the mayor； still engaged in a heated argument with
McGinnis and certain employers who sympathised with the Irishman's
opinions。 Thus the strike passed into another and more dangerous
phase。
CHAPTER XIV
GATHERING CLOUDS
On the Rectory lawn a hard…fought game had just finished； bringing
to a conclusion a lengthened series of contests which had extended
over a whole week； in which series Patricia； with her devoted
cavalier； Victor Forsythe； had been forced to accept defeat at the
hands of her sister and her partner； Hugh Maynard。
〃Partner； you were wonderful in that last set！〃 said Patricia； as
they moved off together to offer their congratulations to their
conquerors。
〃Patsy；〃 said her partner； in a low voice； 〃as ever； you are superb
in defeat as in victory。 Superb； unapproachable； wonderful。〃
〃Anything else； Vic？〃 inquired Patsy； grinning at the youth。
〃Oh； a whole lot more； Pat； if you only give me a chance to tell
you。〃
〃No time just now；〃 cried Patricia as she reached the others。
〃Well； you two deserved to win。 You played ripping tennis；〃 she
continued； offering Hugh her hand。
〃So did you； Pat。 You were at the very top of your form。〃
〃Well； some other day；〃 said Vic。 〃I think we are improving a bit；
partner。 A little more close harmony will do the trick。〃
〃Come away； children；〃 said Mrs。 Templeton； calling to them from
the shade at the side of the courts。 〃You must be very tired and
done out。 Why； how hot you look； Patricia。〃
〃Stunning； I should say！〃 murmured Vic； looking at her with adoring
eyes。
And a truly wonderful picture the girl made； in her dainty muslin
frock； her bold red hair tossed in a splendid aureole about her
face。 Care…free； heart…free； as she flashed from her hearty blue
eyes her saucy and bewitching glances at her partner's face； her
mother sighed； thinking that her baby girl was swiftly slipping
away from her and forever into that wider world of womanhood where
others would claim her。
In lovely contrast stood her sister； dressed in flannel skirt and
sweater of old gold silk； fair； tall； beautiful； a delicate grace
in every line of her body and a proud； yet gentle strength in every
feature of her face。 There dwelt in her deep blue eyes a look of
hidden； mysterious power which had wrought in her mother a certain
fear of her eldest daughter。 The mother never quite knew what to
expect from Adrien。 Yet； for all； she carried an assured confidence
that whatever she might do； her daughter never would shame the high
traditions of her race。
The long shadows from the tall elms lay across the velvet sward of
the Rectory lawn。 The heat of the early June day had given place
to the cool air of the evening。 The exquisitely delicate colouring
from the setting sun flooded the sky overhead and deepened into
blues and purples behind the elms and the church spire。 A deep
peace had fallen upon the world except that from the topmost bough
of the tallest elm tree a robin sang； pouring his very heart out in
a song of joyous optimism。
The little group； disposed upon the lawn according to their various
desires； stood and sat looking up at the brave little songster。
〃How happy he is；〃 said Mrs。 Templeton； a wistful cadence of
sadness in her voice。
〃I wonder if he is； Mamma。 Perhaps he is only pretending；〃 said
Adrien。
〃Cheerio； old chap！〃 cried Vic； waving his hand at the gallant
little songster。 〃You are a regular grouch killer。〃
〃He has no troubles；〃 said Mrs。 Templeton； with a sigh。
〃I wonder； Mamma。 Or is he just bluffing us all？〃
〃He has no strike； at any rate； to worry him；〃 said Patricia； 〃and；
by the way； what is the news to…day？ Does anybody know？ Is there
any change？〃
〃Oh；〃 cried Vic； 〃there has been a most exciting morning at the
E。 D。 C。the Employers' Defence Committee；〃 he explained； in answer
to Mrs。 Templeton's mystified look。
〃Do go on！〃 cried Patricia impatiently。 〃Was there a fight？ They
are always having one。〃
〃Of course there was the usual morning scrap； but with a variation
to…day of a deputation from the brethren of the Ministerial
Association。 But； of course； Mrs。 Templeton； the Doctor must have
told you already。〃
〃I hardly ever see him these days。 He is dreadfully occupied。
There is so much trouble； sickness and that sort of thing。 Oh； it
is all terribly sad。 The Doctor is almost worn out。〃
〃He made a wonderful speech to the magnates； my governor says。〃
〃Oh； go on； Vic！〃 cried Patricia。 〃Why do you stop？ You are so
deliberate。〃
〃I was thinking of that speech；〃 replied Victor more quietly than
was his wont。 〃It came at a most dramatic moment。 The governor
was quite worked up over it and gave me a full account。 They had
just got all their reports in'all safe along the Potomac'no
break in the front lineBuilding Industries slightly shaky due to
working men's groups taking on small contracts； which excited great
wrath and which McGinnis declared must be