"What a lot of things you know, Aunt Zoe !" said Joe. "But what had Bulwer
to do with war, Mr. Vancouver?"

"Oh, in the book--the 'Coming Race,' you know--they abolished war because
they could kill each other so easily."

"How nice that would be!" exclaimed Joe, looking at him.

"Why, you perfectly shock me, Joe," cried Miss Schenectady.

"I mean, to have no war," returned Joe, sweetly.

"Oh; I belonged to the Peace Conference myself," said her aunt,
immediately pacified. "Well, yes. Perhaps you could bring us a little
cake, Sarah? War is a terrible thing, my dear, as Mr. Vancouver will tell
you."

Vancouver, however, was silent. He probably did not care to have it
remembered that he was old enough to carry a musket in the Rebellion. Joe
understood and asked no Questions about it, and Vancouver was grateful for
her tact. She rose and began to pour out some tea.

"You began talking about Mr. Harrington's speech," said she presently,
"but we got away from the subject. Is it all true?"

"That is scarcely a fair question, Miss Thorn," answered Vancouver. "You
see, I belong to the opposite party in politics."

"But Mr. Harrington said he wanted both parties to combine. Besides, you
do not take any active part in it all."