to him that hath-第48章

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air　associated　with　the　time…honoured　chorus；　〃For　He's　a　Jolly
Good　Fellow。〃　　Then　all　stood　silent；　gazing　at　the　Doctor；　who；
much　embarrassed；　could　only　gaze　back　in　return。

〃Papa；　dear；〃　said　Adrien；　who　with　Hugh　Maynard　had　joined　them　at
the　gate；　〃you　will　have　to　speak　to　them。〃

〃Speak　to　them；　my　dear？　　What　in　the　world　could　I　say？　　I　have
nothing　to　say　to　them。〃

〃Oh；　but　you　must；　Papa！　　Just　thank　them。〃

〃And　tell　them　you　are　all　for　them；　Daddy！〃　added　Patricia
impulsively。

Then　the　old　Doctor；　buttoning　his　coat　tightly　about　him　and
drawing　himself　erect；　said：

〃Rupert；　please　run　your　car　out　to　the　road。　　Thank　you。〃
Mounting　the　car；　he　stood　waiting　quietly　till　the　cheering　had
died　down　into　silence；　his　beautiful；　noble；　saintly　face　lit　with
the　faint　glow　that　still　came　from　the　western　sky　but　more　with
the　inner　light　that　shines　from　a　soul　filled　with　high　faith　in
God　and　compassion　for　man。

〃Gentlemen〃　he　began。

〃Ladies；　too；　Papa；〃　said　Patricia　in　a　clear　undertone。

〃Ah！〃　corrected　the　Doctor。　　〃Ladies　and　Gentlemen：〃　while　a　laugh
ran　down　the　line。　　〃One　generally　begins　a　speech　with　the　words
'I　am　glad　to　see　you　here。'　　These　words　I　cannot　say　this
evening。　　I　regret　more　deeply　than　you　can　understand　the　occasion
of　your　being　here　at　all。　　And　in　this　regret　I　know　that　you　all
share。　　But　I　am　glad　that　I　can　say　from　my　heart　that　I　feel
honoured　by　and　deeply　moved　by　the　compliment　you　have　just　paid
me　through　your　band。　　I　could　wish；　indeed；　that　I　was　the　'jolly
good　fellow'　you　have　said；　but　as　I　look　at　you　I　confess　I　am
anything　but　'jolly。'　　I　have　been　in　too　many　of　your　homes　during
the　last　three　weeks　to　be　jolly。　　The　simple　truth　is；　I　am　deeply
saddened　and；　whatever　be　the　rights　or　wrongs；　and　all　fair…minded
men　will　agree　that　there　are　rights　and　wrongs　on　both　sides；　my
heart　goes　out　in　sympathy　to　all　who　are　suffering　and　anxious　and
fearful　for　the　future。　　I　will　try　to　do　my　best　to　bring　about　a
better　understanding。〃

〃We　know　that；　sir；〃　shouted　a　voice。　　〃Ye　done　yer　best。〃

〃But　so　far　I　and　those　labouring　with　me　have　failed。　　But　surely；
surely；　wise　and　reasonable　men　can　find　before　many　days　a
solution　for　these　problems。　　And　now　let　me　beg　your　leaders　to　be
patient　a　little　longer；　to　banish　angry　and　suspicious　feelings
and　to　be　willing　to　follow　the　light。　　I　see　that　many　of　you　are
soldiers。　　To　you　my　heart　goes　out　with　a　love　as　true　as　if　you
were　my　own　sons；　for　you　were　the　comrades　of　my　son。　　Let　me
appeal　to　you　to　preserve　unbroken　that　fine　spirit　of　comradeship
that　made　the　Canadian　Army　what　it　was。　　And　let　me　assure　you　all
that；　however　our　weak　and　erring　human　hearts　may　fail　and　come
short；　the　great　heart　of　the　Eternal　Father　is　unchanging　in　Its
love　and　pity　for　us　all。　　Meantime；　believe　me；　I　shall　never
cease　to　labour　and　pray　that　very　soon　peace　may　come　to　us
again。〃　　Then；　lifting　his　hands　over　them　while　the　men　uncovered；
he　said　a　brief　prayer；　closing　with　the　apostolic　blessing。

Startled　at　the　burst　of　cheering　which　followed　shortly　after　the
conclusion　of　the　prayer；　the　babe　broke　into　loud　crying。　　Vainly
the　weary　mother　sought　to　quiet　her　child；　she　herself　well…nigh
exhausted　with　her　march；　being　hardly　able　to　stand　erect。
Swiftly　Adrien　sprang　from　the　car　and　ran　out　to　her。

〃Let　me　carry　the　babe；〃　she　cried；　taking　the　child　in　her　arms。
〃Come　into　the　car　with　me。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　woman　fiercely。　　〃I　will　go　through　with　it。〃　　But
even　as　she　spoke　she　swayed　upon　her　feet。

With　gentle　insistence；　however；　Adrien　caught　her　arm　and　forced
her　toward　the　car。

〃I　will　not　leave　them；〃　said　the　woman　stubbornly。

〃Speak　to　her；　Annette；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃She　cannot　walk。〃

〃Mrs。　Egan；〃　said　Annette；　coming　to　her；　〃it　will　be　quite　all
right　to　go　in　the　car。　　It　will　be　all　the　better。　　Think　of　the
fine　parade　it　will　make。〃

But；　still　protesting；　the　old　woman　hung　back；　crying；　〃Let　me　go！
I　will　go　through！〃

〃Sure　thing！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃We　will　take　you　along。　　Where's
Rupert？〃

But　Rupert；　furious　and　disgusted；　hung　back　in　the　shadow。

〃Here；　Vic！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃You　take　the　wheel！〃

〃Delighted；　I　am　sure！〃　cried　Vic；　climbing　into　the　seat。　　〃Get　in
here；　Patsy。　　All　set；　Colonel；〃　he　added；　saluting　to　the　officer
in　command　of　the　parade；　and　again　the　column　broke　into　cheering
as　they　moved　off　to　the　tap　of　the　drum；　Rupert's　elegant　Hudson
Six　taking　a　place　immediately　following　the　band。

〃All　my　life　I　have　longed　for　the　spotlight；〃　murmured　Vic　to　his
companion；　a　delighted　grin　on　his　face。　　〃But　one　can　have　too
much　of　a　good　thing。　　And；　with　Wellington；　I　am　praying　that
night　may　come　before　I　reach　the　haunts　of　my　comrades　in　arms。〃

〃Why；　Vic；　do　you　care？〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃Not　I！　　And　I　think　it
was　just　splendid　of　Adrien！〃

〃Oh；　topping！　　But　did　you　see　the　gentle　Rupert's　face？　　Oh；　it
was　simply　priceless！　　Fancy　this　sacred　car　leading　a　strikers'
parade。〃　　And　Vic's　body　shook　with　delighted　chuckles。

〃Don't　laugh；　Vic！〃　said　Patricia；　laying　her　hand　upon　his　arm。
〃The　lady　behind　will　see　you。〃

〃Steady　it　is；〃　said　Vic。　　〃But　I　feel　as　if　I　were　the　elephant　in
the　circus。　　I　say；　can　we　execute　a　flank　movement；　or　must　we　go
through　to　the　bitter　end？〃

〃Adrien；〃　said　Patricia；　〃do　you　think　this　night　air　is　good　for
the　baby？〃

〃We　shall　go　on　a　bit　yet；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃Mrs。　Egan　is　very　tired
and　I　am　sure　will　want　to　go　home　presently。〃

But　Mrs。　Egan　was　beginning　to　recover　her　strength　and；　indeed；
to　enjoy　the　new　distinction　of　riding　in　a　car；　and　in　this　high
company。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　must　go　through。〃　　She　had　the　look　and　tone　of
a　martyr。　　〃They　chose　me；　you　see；　and　I　must　go　through！〃

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　Adrien　cheerfully。　　〃We　shall　just　go　along；
Vic。〃

Through　the　main　streets　of　the　town　the　parade　marched　and
countermarched　till；　in　a　sudden；　they　found　themselves　in　front　of
the　McGinnis　foundry。　　Before　the　gate　in　the　high　board　fence
which　enclosed　the　property；　a　small　crowd　had　gathered；　which
greeted　the　marching　column　with　uproarious　cheers。　　From　the
company　at　the　gate　a　man　rushed　forward　and　spoke　eagerly　to　the
officer　in　command。

〃By　Jove；　there's　Tony！〃　said　Vic。　　〃And　that　chap　McDonough。　　What
does　this　mean？〃

After　a　brief　conversation　with　Tony；　who　apparently　was
passionately　pressing　his　opinion；　the　officer　shook　his　head　and
marched　steadily　forward。　　Suddenly　Tony；　climbing　upon　the　fence；
threw　up　his　hand　and；　pointing　toward　the　foundry；　shouted　forth
the　single　word；　〃Scabs！〃　　Instantly　the　column　halted。　　Again
Tony；　in　a　yell；　uttered　the　same　word；　〃Scabs！〃　　From　hundreds　of
throats　there　was　an　answering　roar；　savage；　bloodthirsty　as　from　a
pack　of　wild　beasts。　　Tony　waved　his　hand　for　silence。

〃Scabs！〃　he　cried　again。　　〃McGinnis　strike…breakers！　　They　came　to…
night。　　They　are　in　there！〃　　He　swung　his　arm　around　and　pointed　to
the　foundry。　　〃Shall　we　give　them　a　welcome？　　What　do　you　say；
boys？〃　　Again　and　more　fiercely　than　before；　more　terribly　cruel；
came　the　answering　roar。

〃Here；　this　is　no　place　for　you！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃Let's　get　out。〃　　At
his　touch　the　machine　leaped　forward；　clear　of　the　crowd。

〃Annette！〃　cried　Adrien；　her　hand　on　Vic's　shoulder。　　〃Go　and　get
her！〃

Halting　the　car；　Vic　leaped　from　the　wheel；　ran　to　where　the　girls'
squad　was　halted　and　caught　Annette　by　the　arm。

〃Annette；〃　he　said；　〃get　your　girls　away　from　here　quick！　　Come
with　us！〃

But　Annette　laughed　scornfully　at　him。

〃Go　with　you？　　Not　I！　　But；〃　she　added　in　a　breathless　undertone；
〃for　God's　sake；　get　your　ladies　and　the　baby　away。　　These　people
won't　know　who　you　are。　　Move　quick！〃

〃Come　with　us；　Annette！〃　implored　Vic。　　〃If　you　come；　the　rest　will
follow。〃

〃Go！　　Go！〃　cried　Annette；　pushing　him。　　Already　the　crowd　were
tearing　the　fence　to　pieces　with　their　hands；　and　rocks　were
beginning　to　fly。

Failing　to　move　the　girl；　Vic　sprang　to　the　wheel　again。

〃I　will　get　you　away　from