I--I suppose there is a
village up there or--or some houses, where I may stay."

Stefan stared at her, scratching his touzled yellow head, and turned
to his wife, who was looking at him as she poised a forkful of fat
bacon in the air, forgetfully.

"Maybe de leddy means Papineau's," he said. "But if Hugo Ennis he say
for her to come then it is all right, sure. Hugo vould do only vhat is
right. He is my friend. He safe my life. So if he don't turn up by de
time ve finish breakfast I hitch up dem togs an' take you dere real
qvick. Mebbe he can't come for you, some vay. Mebbe Maigan hurt or
sick so he can't pull toboggan. You vant to go, no?"

"I--I suppose so," faltered the girl. "I--I must see him, as soon as
possible, and--and...."

"Dat's all right," interrupted Stefan. "So long you vants to go I take
you up dere. No trouble for to do anyting for Hugo and his friends. De
dogs is strong an' fresh. Ve go up there mighty qvick, I bet you,
ma'am."

Mrs. Olsen was not used to question her husband's decisions. There
seemed to be something rather mysterious about all this, but she was a
placid soul who could wait in peace for the explanation that would
doubtless be forthcoming. Anyway there was Papineau's house about a
mile away from the Falls, and the girl could find shelter there. She
smiled at her guest pleasantly and urged her to eat more. For some
minutes Madge's appetite had forsaken her. But the temptation of good
food in abundance overcame her alarm. She felt the comfort of a quiet,
God-fearing, civil-spoken household. They were rough people, in their
way, but they seemed so genuine, so friendly, so full of the desire to
help her and put her at her ease, that she was again reassured. Her
hunger assailed her and she ate what she considered a huge breakfast,
though Stefan Olsen's family seemed to wonder at her scanty ability to
dispose of the things they piled upon her plate. When large brown
griddle-cakes were finally placed before her she could eat but a
single one.

"Mebbe," said the good woman, "in Nev York you ain't used to tings
like ve country people have."

Used to them, forsooth! Indeed she had not been used to such things.
She remembered the small bottles of bluish milk, the butter doled out
in yellow lumps of strong taste, the couple of rolls that would make a
meal, the cup of tea or coffee of pale hue, the bits of meat she could
afford but once in several days. No, indeed she had not been used to
s