"
"Oh, yes--and Russia," said the girl. "Still, you see, the big mills
in Winnipeg and Minneapolis depend upon the prairie. They couldn't
very well bring wheat in from Australia."
Barrington was still smiling with his eyes, but his lips were set. "A
little knowledge is dangerous, my dear, and if you could understand me
better, I could show you where you were wrong. As it is, I can only
tell you that I have decided to sell wheat forward and plow very
little."
"But that was a policy you condemned with your usual vigor. You really
know you did."
"My dear," said the Colonel, with a little impatient gesture, "one can
never argue with a lady. You see--circumstances alter cases
considerably."
He nodded with an air of wisdom as though that decided it, but the girl
persisted. "Uncle," she said, drawing closer to him with lithe
gracefulness, "I want you to let me have my own way just for once, and
if I am wrong, I will never do anything you do not approve of again.
After all, it is a very little thing, and you would like to please me."
"It is a trifle that is likely to cost you a good deal of money," said
the Colonel dryly.
"I think I could afford it, and you could not refuse me."
"As I am only your uncle, and no longer a trustee, I could not," said
Barrington. "Still, you would not act against my wishes?"
His eyes were gentle, unusually so, for he was not as a rule very
patient when any one questioned his will, but there was a reproach in
them that hurt the girl.
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