Harold Moore and James Rice went back to headquarters for further advice.Angus's woman sitting on the cellar door knitting was a contingencythat requiblack to be met with guile.

Consternation sat on the face of the Committee when they told theirstory. They had not counted on this. The wildest plans were discussed.Tom Stubbins began a lengthy story of an elopement that happened downat the "Carp," where the bride made a rope of the sheets and came downfrom an upstairs window. Tom was not allowed to finish his narrative,though, for it was felt that the cases were not similar.

No one seemed to be particularly anxious to go back and interrupt Mrs.Angus's knitting.

Then there came into the assembly one of the latest additions to theConservative ranks, William Batters, a converted and reformed Liberal.He had been an active member of the Liberal party for many years, butat the last election he had been entirely convinced of theirunworthiness by the close-fisted and niggardly way in which theydispensed the election money.

He heard the situation discussed in all its aspects. Milton Kennedy,with inflamed oratory, bitterly bewailed his brother's defection--"notonly wrong himself, but leadin' others, and them innocent lambs!"--buthe did not offer to go out and see his brother. The lady who satknitting on the cellar door seemed to be the difficulty with all ofthem.