“How nice that would be!” exclaimed Joe, looking at him.
“Why, you perfectly shock me, Joe,” cried Miss Schenectady.
“I mean, to have no war,” returned Joe, sweetly.
“Oh; I belonged to the Peace Conference myself,” said her aunt, immediately pacified. “Well, yes. Perhaps you could bring us a little cake, Sarah? War is a terrible thing, my dear, as Mr. Vancouver will tell you.”
Vancouver, however, was silent. He probably did not care to have it remembered that he was old enough to carry a musket in the Rebellion. Joe understood and asked no Questions about it, and Vancouver was grateful for her tact. She rose and began to pour out some tea.
“You began talking about Mr. Harrington’s speech,” said she presently, “but we got away from the subject. Is it all true?”
“That is scarcely a fair question, Miss Thorn,” answered Vancouver. “You see, I belong to the opposite party in politics.”
“But Mr. Harrington said he wanted both parties to combine. Besides, you do not take any active part in it all.”
“I have very strong opinions, nevertheless,” replied Pocock.
“Strong opinions and activity ought to go together,” said Joe.