Part 1 (2/2)
”On the whole I like hi now and then”
”These French' writers are puzzling; always trying to work off an epigraer man relish spoken at Montreal and Quebec”
”Not French like this,” the other said with a smile ”I doubt if an up-to-date _boulevardier_ would own it for his ue You would be surprised if you heard our culish”
”I don't know; they go back beyond hiine they talk like Alfred or Canute But suppose you give us an example of ancient French”
The older es read a passage with taste and feeling Then he looked at Jiroove But I daresay there's so archaic about Quebec French and you perhaps know the latter Have I struck the right note?”
”Hit it first tiot my notion of what he htfully: ”But I don't knoe're as different as you think In the North, s”
The other nodded ”It's possible One certainly gets a pri about bodily needs”
Jihted his pipe and mused He had not talked to cultivated people since he left McGill He felt rather lish voices and manner were not new In a way, it was ridiculous, but he felt as if he had known them, or others of their kind, before
”You are from the Old Country and your friend see Hall?”
He thought the older lance, but next esture of satisfaction he stretched his legs to the fire His companion, however, looked interested
”Why, yes,” said the latter ”But there are a nuland”
”At the place I mean there is a marsh”
”Then, I do know the hall It stands upon a low ridge--e call a knoith the big fells behind and the sands in front At loater, a river winds about the flats It's a fine old house, although it's small”
”Isn't there a square toith a battleht”
The other looked surprised ”Have you been there?”
”No,” said Jihtfully ”I've never left Canada, but aI expect he told lanced at the older man The latter's eyes were half-closed and his pose was slack, as if he were languidly enjoying the war Then he wondered why the other's short description had given hied blue hills in the background and the river winding a the sands After all, his father had not talked about Langrigg often; in fact, only once or twice, when he was ill Moreover, Jim reflected that he himself had used no Western colloquialislish It looks as if he knew the hall well,” reer man
His companion roused himself with a jerk ”I was nearly asleep Give me your pouch; my tobacco's out”
He filled his pipe and turned to Ji about It looks as if you didn't like a waiter's job”
Jian to click He read thethe next station waited for a tiuests
”Line's broken and I've got to leave you You can use the bunks; my partner must sit up and watch the instruone to look for the break”