VICTORIA DAY 179 



English person. You know what I mean, don't 

 you, Pat ? " 



" I am an Oirishman, lady," said Pat, on the 

 solemn side of ambiguity. But I felt rather than 

 heard arrested mirth. 



" Who bought it ? " I asked. 



" I guess 'twas the little Englishman. I don't 

 mind his name. He came out last fall with his wife 

 and kids." 



There was a tiny silence, followed by shrieks of 

 Irish and Canadian laughter, in which I only failed 

 to join because of my aching jaw. But the reason 

 of my silence was misconstrued. 



*' I shouldn't have said, only you asked me straight 

 out," said the Canadian. " I guess there's good 

 and bad in all alike. 'Twill all come out in the 

 wash ! " 



• • • • 



From the granary came music. All the stars 

 drew near to listen : 



Scatther his enemies, 



Confound their knavish thricks 



" I guess we had enough of that comin' along the 

 trail, Pat. Quit singin' them King songs. 'Tis 

 Queen Victoria's Day." 



