He kept his eye open for
chances, and noted one or two likely things. "We want
labour mostly," he said to Advena, "but nobody is refused
leave to land because he has a little money."
"I should think not, indeed," remarked Mrs Murchison,
who was present. "I often wish your father and I had had
a little more when we began. That whole Gregory block
was going for three thousand dollars then. I wonder what
it's worth now?"
"Yes, but you and Father are worth more, too," remarked
Stella acutely.
"In fact, all the elder members of the family have
approximated in value, Stella," said her brother, "and
you may too, in time."
"I'll take my chance with the country," she retorted.
They were all permeated with the question of the day;
even Stella, after holding haughtily aloof for some time,
had been obliged. to get into step, as she described it,
with the silly old Empire. Whatever it was in England,
here it was a family affair; I mean in the town of Elgin,
in the shops and the offices, up and down the tree-bordered
streets as men went to and from their business, atomic
creatures building the reef of the future, but conscious,
and wanting to know what they were about. Political
parties had long declared themselves, the Hampden Debating
Society had had several grand field nights.
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