"That's one of the things you'll have to learn to do without till I can
afford to buy a cow."

"I can't drink tea without milk."

"You try. Say, can you milk a cow?"

"I? No."

"Then it's just as well I ain't got one."

Nora laughed. "You _are_ a philosopher."

Having filled the teapot with boiling water and set it on the table, she
returned to the shelf and began moving the things about in search of
something.

"What you looking for?"

"Is there a candle? I'll just get one or two things out of my box and
bring in here."

"Ain't you going to sit down and have a cup of tea?"

"I don't want any, thanks."

"Sit down, my girl."

"Why?"

"Because I tell you to." The command was smilingly given.

"I don't think you'd better tell me to do things." Nora could smile,
too.

"Then I ask you. You ain't going to refuse the first favor I've asked
you?"

"Certainly not," she said in her most charming manner. Pulling another
of the stools up to the table, she sat facing him.

"There."

"Now, pour out my tea for me, will you? I tell you," he said, watching
her slim hands moving among the tea things, "it's rum seeing _my_ wife
sitting down at _my_ table and pouring out tea for me."

"Is it pleasant?"

"Sure. Now have some tea yourself, my girl. You'll soon get used to
drinking it without milk. And I guess you'll be able to get some
to-morrow from Mrs. Sharp."

Nora noticed that he did not taste his tea until she had poured herself
a cup.

"Just take a bit of the bread and butter."

He passed her the plate and she, still smiling brightly, broke off a
small half of one of the slices.

"I had a sort of feeling I wanted you and me to have the first meal
together in your new home," he said gently.

Then, with a sudden change of manner, he laughed aloud.

"We ain't lost much time, I guess. Why, it's only yesterday you told me
not to call you Nora. You did _flare_ out at me!"

"That was very silly of me, but I was in a temper."

"And now we're man and wife."

"Yes: married in haste with a vengeance."

"Ain't you a bit scared?"

"I? What of? You?"

Her voice was steady, but the hands in her lap were clenched.

"With Ed miles away, t'other side of Winnipeg, he might just as well be
in the old country for all the good he can be to you. You might
naturally be a bit scared to find yourself alone with a man you don't
know."

"I'm not the nervous sort."

"Good for you!"

"You _did_ give me a fright,