She stopped smiling.  In truth, her new capacity for dithyramb was no less surprising to herself than to Delaine.

“I return to my point”—­he made it not without tartness—­“will the new men be adequate to the new state?”

“Won’t they?” He fancied a certain pride in her bearing.  “They explained to me the other day at Winnipeg what the Government do for the emigrants—­how they guide and help them—­take care of them in sickness and in trouble, through the first years—­protect them, really, even from themselves.  And one thinks how Governments have taxed, and tortured, and robbed, and fleeced—­Oh, surely, surely, the world improves!” She clasped her hands tightly on her knee, as though trying by the physical action to restrain the feeling within.  “And to see here the actual foundations of a great state laid under your eyes, deep and strong, by men who know what it is they are doing—­to see history begun on a blank page, by men who know what they are writing—­isn’t it wonderful, wonderful!”

“Dear lady!” said Delaine, smiling, “America has been dealing with emigrants for generations; and there are people who say that corruption is rife in Canada.”

But Elizabeth would not be quenched.

“We come after America—­we climb on her great shoulders to see the way.  But is there anything in America to equal the suddenness of this?  Twelve years ago even—­in all this Northwest—­practically nothing.  And then God said:  ’Let there be a nation!’—­and there was a nation—­in a night and a morning.”  She waved her hand towards the great expanse of prairie.  “And as for corruption—­”

“Well?” He waited maliciously.

“There is no great brew without a scum,” she said laughing.  “But find me a brew anywhere in the world, of such power, with so little.”

“Mr. Anderson would, I think, be pleased with you,” said Delaine, drily.

Elizabeth frowned a little.

“Do you think I learnt it from him?  I assure you he never rhapsodises.”

“No; but he gives you the material for rhapsodies.”

“And why not?” said Elizabeth indignantly.  “If he didn’t love the country and believe in it he wouldn’t be going into its public life.  You can feel that he is Canadian through and through.”

“A farmer’s son, I think, from Manitoba?”

“Yes.”  Elizabeth’s tone was a little defensive.

“Will you not sometimes—­if you watch his career—­regret that, with his ability, he has not the environment—­and the audience—­of the Old World?”

“No, never!  He will be one of the shapers of the new.”

Delaine looked at her with a certain passion.

“All very well, but you don’t belong to it.  We can’t spare you from the old.”

“Oh, as for me, I’m full of vicious and corrupt habits!” put in Elizabeth hurriedly.  “I am not nearly good enough for the new!”

“Thank goodness for that!” said Delaine fervently, and, bending forward, he tried to see her face.  But Elizabeth did not allow it.  She could not help flushing; but as she bent over the side of the platform looking ahead, she announced in her gayest voice that there was a town to be seen, and it was probably Regina.