"I love him--partly--because he is so true to his own people--because I saw him first--and knew him first--among them. No! dear Philip, he has his work to do in Canada--in that great, great nation that is to be. He has been trained for it--no one else can do it but he--and neither you nor I must tempt him from it."
The eyes of the brother and sister met. Elizabeth tried for a lighter tone.
"But as neither of us could tempt him from it--it is no use talking--is it?"
Philip looked from her to Anderson in a frowning silence. No one spoke for a little while. Then it seemed to them as though the young man recognised that his effort had failed, and his physical weakness shrank from renewing it. But he still resisted his mother's attempt to put an end to the scene.
"That's all very well, Lisa," he said at last, "but what are you going to do?"
Elizabeth withdrew her hand from Anderson's.
"What am I going to do? Wait--just that!"
But her lip trembled. And to hide it she sank down again in the low chair in front of her brother, propping her face in both hands.
"Wait?" repeated Philip, scornfully--"and what for?"
"Till you and mother--come to my way of thinking--and"--she faltered--"till Mr. Anderson--"