Now Jack had accompanied his mother on the previous Sunday to the anniversary service of the Sons of England, a well-known patriotic society. He had been greatly impressed by the procession, the hymns, and the sermon, and on coming home had asked his father many questions as to the "why and wherefore" of the society. It was this episode which suggested the bright idea to his active little brain.
"Aunt Kathie," he said,—for Miss Covert was now a fully accepted adopted aunt,—"why couldn't we form a patriarchal society?"
"A what, dear?" said Kathie, in rather startled tones, laying "Rob Roy" on the table, for she liked to give her whole mind to Jackie's propositions and queries.
"A patri—oh, you know what; like the Sons of England, you know!"
"Oh, yes! Patriotic, dearie; a patriotic society. You know a patriot is one who loves his country. What sort of a patriotic society would you like to have, Jack?"
"Oh, pure Canadian, of course! Let me see,—we couldn't be the Sons of Canada, because we are not all sons."
"Not quite all," murmured Dora, with drowsy sarcasm, from the window.
"Why not Children of Canada?" suggested Kathie.
"No, Aunt Kathie, that would never do at all, for mother and Daddy and you must be in it, and you couldn't be called children,—though, of course, you're not so very old," he added, as if fearing he had hurt her feelings.