"
"Ah, quite true! But to a young man bred on a farm in this country--"
"Excuse me, Mr. Rae," replied Martin quickly, "there is no such thing in
Canada as a gentleman farmer. The farmer works with his men."
"Do you mean that he actually works?" inquired "Lily." "With the plough
and hoe, and that sort of thing?"
"Works all day long, as long as any of his men, and indeed longer."
"And does he actually live--? of course he doesn't eat with his
servants?" said "Lily" in a tone that deprecated the preposterous
proposition.
"They all eat together in the big kitchen," replied Martin.
"How awful!" gasped "Lily."
"My father does," replied Martin, a little colour rising in his cheek,
"and my mother, and my brothers. They all eat with the men; my sister,
too, except when she waits on table."
"Fine!" exclaimed Miss Brodie. "And why not? 'Lily,' I'm afraid you're
horribly snobbish."
"Thank the Lord," said "Lily" devoutly, "I live in this beloved
Scotland!"
"But, Mr. Martin, forgive my persistence, I understand there is cheaper
land in certain parts of Canada; in, say, ManitoBAW."
"Ah, yes, Sir, of course, lots of it; square miles of it!" cried Martin
with enthusiasm. "The very best out of doors, and cheap, but I fancy
there are some hardships in Manitoba."
"But I see by the public newspapers," continued Mr.
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