Is it
any wonder the Germans beat them in their own shops and
Russia walks into Thibet? The eternal marvel is that they
stand where they do."
"At the top," said Mr Williams.
"Oh--at the top! Think of what you mean when you say
'England.'"
"I see that the demand for a tariff on manufactured goods
is growing," Williams remarked, "even the anti-food-tax
organs are beginning to shout for that."
"If they had put it on twenty years ago," said Lorne,
"there would be no twelve million people making a problem
for want of work. and it would be a good deal easier to
do imperial business today."
"You'll find," said John Murchison, removing his pipe,
"that protection'll have to come first over there. They'll
put up a fence and save their trade--in their own good
time, not next week or next year--and when they've done
that they'll talk to us about our big ideas--not before.
And if Wallingham hadn't frightened them with the imperial
job, he never would have got them to take up the other.
It's just his way of getting both done."
"I hope you're right, Father," said Lorne, with a covert
glance at his watch. "Horace--Mrs Williams--I'll have to
get you to excuse me. I have an engagement at eight."
He left them with a happy spring in his step, left them
looking after him, talking of him, with pride and
congratulation.
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