OF HARVEST, WAGES, IMPLEMENTS 39 



hay, and, to an Englishwoman, the seeming urgent 

 necessity of immediate repair, I might have made 

 the deal ; but I had discovered that although, 

 after his many years' residence in the North- West, 

 " the Great Boaster " knew his business, he never 

 lost an opportunity of " resting a piece." That 

 day two men had chanced to call in search of 

 employment, and offered their service at one dollar 

 fifty ; but I felt that a change was inadvisable, and 

 decided to offer " the Great Boaster " a renewal of 

 the bargain — twenty dollars for twelve days — but I 

 intended to map out service day by day. 



I told Hilaria of my intention as we were saying 

 good-night to Charles Edward, and just at that 

 moment his voice fell on our ears. 



" Be sure have the women up in good time to 

 get our breakfast, Lai. To-morrow we ought to 

 get in at least live loads of hay." 



" Women indeed ! " said Hilaria. " Oh, haven't 

 you tied yourself up in a knot ! " 



However, " the women " as usual served breakfast 

 punctually, but finding the exclusively egotistical 

 turn of the conversation a little trying at that early 

 hour I went off to the gallery-room which Hilaria 

 and I had fixed up at the head of the stairs. 



" Billy wishes to know if you have decided that 

 he shall work on next week at two dollars a day," 

 said my brother. " And if he thinks I am going to 

 do all the pitchin' whilst he lies on the hay and 

 smokes, he is mistaken," he added. " Yesterday he 

 sat on the stable roof like a field-marshal commanding 

 an army whilst I did all the work. And^I have done 

 every blessed chore this morning whilst he talked on." 



" How very silly of you ! " I answered. " Of 



