“Ah, you say that because it belongs to England. I admit it is very delightful; but then there are other places on the Continent quite as beautiful as any part of Canada. You seem to have a prejudice in favour of monarchical institutions.”
“Oh, is Canada monarchical? I didn’t know that. I thought Canada was quite republican in its form of government.”
“Well, it is a dependency; that’s what I despise about Canada. Think of a glorious country like that, with hundreds of thousands of square miles, in fact, millions, I think, being dependent on a little island, away there among the fogs and rains, between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. To be a dependency of some splendid tyrannical power like Russia wouldn’t be so bad; but to be dependent on that little island—I lose all my respect for Canada when I think of it.”
“Well, you know, the United States were colonies once.”
“Ah, that is a very unfortunate comparison, Mr. Trenton. The moment the colonies, as you call them, came to years of discretion, they soon shook off their dependency. You must remember you are at Boston, and that the harbour is only a short distance from here.”
“Does that mean that I should take advantage of its proximity and leave?”
“Oh, not at all. I could not say anything so rude, Mr. Trenton. Perhaps you are not familiar with the history of our trouble with England? Don’t you remember it commenced in Boston Harbour practically?”
“Oh yes, I recollect now. I had forgotten it. Something about tea, was it not?”
“Yes, something about tea.”
“Well, talking of tea, Miss Sommerton, may I take you to the conservatory and bring you a cup of it?”