“Sharp enough! that's a hard word, Colonel,” said Mrs. Murray, earnestly, “and it may be a cruel word, but if Ranald were ever so sharp he really couldn't remove the real cause of the trouble. You say he has produced larger results than ever before, and if the market were normal there would be larger returns. Then, it seems to me, Colonel, that if Ranald suffers he is suffering, not because he has been unfaithful or incompetent, but because the market is bad, and that I am certain you would not consider fair.”
“You must not be too hard on us,” said the colonel. “So far as I am concerned, I think you are right, but it is a hard thing to make business men look at these things in anything but a business way.”
“But it should not be hard, Colonel,” said Mrs. Murray, with sad earnestness, “to make even business men see that when honor is the price of dividends the cost is too great,” and without giving the colonel an opportunity of replying, she went on with eager enthusiasm to show how the laws of the kingdom of heaven might be applied to the great problems of labor. “And it would pay, Colonel,” she cried, “it would pay in money, but far more it would pay in what cannot be bought for money—in the lives and souls of men, for unjust and uncharitable dealing injures more the man who is guilty of it than the man who suffers from it in the first instance.”
“Madam,” answered the colonel, gravely, “I feel you are right, and I should be glad to have you address the meeting of our share-holders, called for next month, to discuss the question of our western business.”
“Do you mean Ranald's position?” asked Kate.
“Well, I rather think that will come up.”
“Then,” said Mrs. Murray, unconsciously claiming the colonel's allegiance, “I feel sure there will be one advocate at least for fair and honorable dealing at that meeting.” And the colonel was far too gallant to refuse to acknowledge the claim, but simply said: “You may trust me, madam; I shall do my best.”
“I only wish papa were here,” said Kate. “He is a share-holder, isn't he? And wish he could hear you, auntie, but he and mamma won't be home for two weeks.”
“Oh, Kate,” cried Mrs. Murray, “you make me ashamed, and I fear I have been talking too much.”
At this point Harry came in. “I just came over to send you to bed,” he said, kissing his aunt, and greeting the others. “You are all to look your most beautiful to-morrow.”