At breakfast, Miss Carmichael sat between Messrs. Bigglethorpe and Lamb, and the lawyer between Miss Halbert and the veteran.  “Who are going fishing to the lakes,” asked the Squire, to which question the doctor replied, regretting his inability; and the colonel declined the invitation on account of his dear boy.  Mr. Lamb intimated that he had business with Miss Du Plessis on Crown Land matters, as the department wished to get back into its possession the land owned by her.  This was a bombshell in the camp.  Miss Du Plessis declined to have any conference on the subject, referring the civil servant to her uncle, to Squire Carruthers, and to her solicitor, Mr. Coristine.  The lawyer was disposed to be liberal in politics, although his friend Wilkinson was a strong Conservative; but the contemptible meanness of a Government department attempting to retire property deeded and paid for in order to gain a few hundred dollars or a new constituent, aroused his vehement indignation, and his determination to fight Lamb and his masters to the bitter end of the Privy Council.

“Mr. Lamb,” said the colonel, “is yoar business with my niece complicated, or is it capable of being stated bhiefly?”

“I can put it in a very few words, Colonel,” replied the civil service official; “the deportment hos received on awffer for Miss Du Plessis’ lond which it would be fawlly to refuse.”

“But,” interposed the Squire, “the department has naething to dae wi’ Miss Cecile’s land:  it’s her ain, every fit o’t.”

“You don’t know the deportment, Squire.  It con take bock lond of its own deed, especially wild lond, by the awffer of a reasonable equivolent or indemnity.  It proposes to return the purchase money, with five per cent. interest to date, and the amount of municipal toxes attested by receipts.  Thot is regorded os a fair odjustment, ond on Miss Du Plessis surrendering her deed to me, the deportment will settle the claim within twelve months, if press of business ollows.”

“Such abominable, thieving iniquity, on the pairt o’ a Government ca’ain’ itself leeberal, I never hard o’ in aa my life,” said the indignant Squire.

“Do you mean to say, Arthur,” asked Mrs. Carmichael, “that your department can take away Cecile’s property in that cavalier fashion, and without any regard to the rise in values?”

“I’m ofraid so, Mrs. Cormichael.”

“What have you to say to that, Mr. Coristine, from a legal standpoint?” enquired Mrs. Carruthers.

“A deed of land made by the Government, or by a private individual, conveys, when, as in this case, all provisions have been complied with, an inalienable title.”

“There is such a thing as expropriation,” suggested Mr. Lamb, rather annoyed to find a lawyer there.

“Expropriation is a municipal affair in cities and towns, or it may be national and provincial in the case of chartered railways or national parks, in all which cases remuneration is by arbitration, not by the will of any expropriating body.”