Ducker the extra two quarts of
milk which Mrs. Ducker had ordered for the occasion.
Mary sat on the back step until Mrs. Ducker should find
time to empty her pitcher. Mary was strictly an outsider.
Mary's father was a Reformer. He ran the opposition paper
to dear Mr. Evans. Mary was never well dressed, partly
accounted for by the fact that the angels had visited
the McSorley home so often. Therefore, for these reasons,
Mary sat on the back step, a rank outsider.
The czar, who knew nothing of these things, began to
"goo" as soon as he saw her. Mary reached out her arms.
The czar stumbled into them and Mary fell to kissing his
bald head. She felt more at home with a baby in her arms.
It was at this unfortunate moment that Mr. Ducker and
Mr. Evans came around to the rear of the house. Mr. Evans
was beginning to think rather more favourably of Mr.
Ducker, as the prospective Conservative member. He might
do all right--there are plenty worse--he has no brains--but
that does not matter. What need has a man of brains when
he goes into politics? Brainy men make the trouble. The
Grits made that mistake once, elected a brainy man, and
they have had no peace since.
Mr. Ducker had adroitly drawn the conversation to a
general discussion of children. He knew that Mr. Evans's
weak point was his little son Algernon.
"That's a clever looking little chap of yours, Evans,"
he had remarked carelessly as they came up the street.
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