A CHEISTMAS JAUNT 



ragout of hare, eggs and bacon, jam and 

 tea, or the equivalent of such a meal, on 

 half an hour's notice at three o'clock in 

 the afternoon, and, candidly, what 

 would your attitude be to hungry unex- 

 pected guests who tumbled in on you 

 thus? If she thought it a nuisance to 

 stable and care for two horses, heat up 

 stoves, prepare the best room and feed 

 four people, Madame 's fine courtesy was 

 equal to concealing it. I would prefer 

 to believe, however, that her yet finer 

 courtesy made but a pleasure of these 

 labours and distractions. 



Fed and warmed, there was talk at 

 large on many subjects, with the 

 father concerning the wolves' depreda- 

 tions among the caribou, and the inva- 

 sions that human commercial wolves 

 threaten against the " public park and 

 pleasure ground," of which he is chief 

 guardian ; with Madame, of the children 

 and their schooling; with Antonio, the 

 eldest son, of crops and prices; with 



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