the parlour. In this he was mistaken. In such
an out-of-the-way region the young Canadian girl was counted as much a
companion as a servant, and while she performed the duties of attendant
at the table in the hall, she also sat modestly down at the same table
to partake of the evening meal. Francois, on the other hand, was told
to go to the kitchen and make himself comfortable.

The kitchen was a little out-house, not unlike a gigantic dog-kennel,
separated by a space of six feet or so from the principal dwelling.

Opening its door, Le Rue entered with a heavy heart, supposing that he
should have to eat his supper in dreary solitude, "not dat I cares moch
for dat," thought he, as he raised the latch, "for I's accostomed to
solitairness; but ah! ven I tinks of--"

"Hooroo!" shouted a gruff voice, scattering at once his thoughts and his
"solitairness."

Le Rue started as he encountered the surprised gaze of a man, but, being
in a crusty humour, he only exclaimed--"Hah!" and returned the gaze.

"Sure it's you or yer ghost," exclaimed the identical driver whom the
two fur-traders had so lately assisted out of difficulties. "Give us
yer fist, young man. Ah, then, it's good luck is yer portion, Rooney.
Didn't I think to sit down to me supper in solitood, whin in comes like
a vision the frind as was a frind indade to me and the ladies the other
day. Come in, come in, sit ye down there; an' ait till yer fit to bust.
Och! but it's mesilf is glad this night. There, putt off yer capote;
if yer at all like me ye'll not be fit to taste a morsel till yer in yer
shirt sleeves. Howld--I'll hang it on the peg for 'ee. Now thin, go to
work. Don't spare it. Faix, there's plinty more where that came from,
though there ain't much variety here. It's pig for breakfast, pig for
dinner, an' pig for supper--wid a slice o' cowld pig at odd times whin
yer extra hungry. An' then ye'll have to pig-in wid myself at night,
for there's only wan bed in this coolinairy mansion, not bein' room to
howld more! That's yer sort--the tae's hot, anyhow."

There was no withstanding such a welcome as this. Francois Le Rue
thawed instantly, and thereafter warmed up to intense cordiality while
he plied his knife and fork on the "pig," and quaffed the steaming
"tae," talking between mouthfuls as his voluble friend gave him
opportunity.

An abrupt check, however, was put to the pleasant flow of his spirits
when Rooney, having occasion to refer t