“Ethan, what have you got in those bundles?” inquired Ben.
“Some things my wife wanted me to git. Can buy ’em cheaper over here.”
“But they’ll cost you as much after you’ve paid the duty, won’t they?”
“Duty? Duty? Who’s a-goin’ to pay any duty, I’d like to know?” replied Ethan, sharply.
“Why, I thought everybody had to pay that when they bought things in Canada.”
“Well, I’m not goin’ to. I’d like to know why I can’t buy things in Brockville if I take a notion, ’specially when they’re cheaper.”
“But I thought everybody up here believed in a high tariff, and voted for it.”
“So they do. We ain’t a-goin’ to have them come over into our country and compete with us! Not much!”
“How can you buy over there and not pay duty, then?”
“Hey? What’s that ye say? Ye act as if ye thought I’d been stealin’. Most everybody does it, an’ I guess it’s all fair enough. Did you pay duty for that dinner ye et up to the hotel? Ye brought some things away inside o’ ye, an’ I brought some outside o’ me. Tell me the difference, will ye?”