The customer was satisfied at last, and Mr Murchison
walked sociably to the door with him; it was the secretary
of the local Oddfellows' Lodge, who had come in about a
furnace.
"Now's our chance," said Lorne. "Father, this is Mr
Hesketh, from London--my father, Hesketh. He can tell
you all you want to know about Canada--this part of it,
anyway. Over thirty years, isn't it, Father, since you
came out?"
"Glad to meet you," said John Murchison, "glad to meet
you, Mr Hesketh. We've heard much about you."
"You must have been quite among the pioneers of Elgin,
Mr Murchison," said Hesketh as they shook hands. Alec
hadn't seemed to think of that; Hesketh put it down to
the counter.
"Not quite," said John. "We'll say among the early
arrivals."
"Have you ever been back in your native Scotland?" asked
Hesketh.
"Aye, twice."
"But you prefer the land of your adoption?"
"I do. But I think by now it'll be kin," said Mr Murchison.
"It was good to see the heather again, but a man lives
best where he's taken root."
"Yes, yes. You seem to do a large business here, Mr
Murchison."
"Pretty well for the size of the place. You must get
Lorne to take you over Elgin. It's a fair sample of our
rising manufacturing towns."
"I hope he will. I understand you manufacture to some
extent yourself?"
"We make our own stoves and a few odd things.
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