One thing, he
explained to his correspondents, you learned at once by
visiting the colonies, and that was to make allowance
for local conditions, both social and economic.
He and Mr Milburn had long serious discussions, staying
behind in the dining-room to have them after tea, when
the ladies took their fancy work into the drawing-room,
and Dora's light touch was heard upon the piano. It may
be supposed that Hesketh brought every argument forward
in favour of the great departure that had been conceived
in England; he certainly succeeded in interesting his
host very deeply in the English point of view. He had,
however, to encounter one that was made in Canada--it
resided in Mr Milburn as a stone might reside in a bag
of wool. Mr Milburn wouldn't say that this preference
trade idea, if practicable, might not work out for the
benefit of the Empire as a whole. That was a thing he
didn't pretend to know. But it wouldn't work out for his
benefit that was a thing he did know. When a man was
confronted with a big political change the question he
naturally asked himself was, "Is it going to be worth my
while?" and he acted on the answer to that question. He
was able to explain to Hesketh, by a variety of facts
and figures, of fascinating interest to the inquiring
mind, just how and where such a concern as the Milburn
Boiler Company would be "hit" by the new policy, after
which he asked his guest fairly, "Now, if you were in my
shoes, would you see your way to voting for any such
thing?"
"If I were in your shoes," said Hesketh, thoughtfully,
"I can't say I would.
Pages:
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346