“Am I indeed? Why? Because the slandered man, if he is slandered, is the friend of my daughter’s friend?”
“Exactly—that’s quite sufficient for you to go upon—that and the falsehood.”
“If it is a falsehood.”
“If—oh, papa—if?”
“If I have your personal guarantee that the statements are unsubstantiated——”
“Now, you are beginning to jest. I cannot jest on so serious an issue. Think of it—slaves—dynamite!”
“Both excellent words for missionaries to send home to England—almost equal to opium and idols from the standpoint of the mission-box.”
Phyllis was solemn for a moment; then she burst into a merry laugh that only wanted a note of merriment to be delightful. Her father did not miss that note. He was thinking of another phrase.
“Now, why shouldn’t you say that or something like that, my father?” cried the girl. “Something to set the House laughing before the Minister of the Annexation Department has had time to reply? You can do it, you know.”
“I believe I could,” said Mr. Ayrton thoughtfully. “But why, my child; why?”