42 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



Our neighbour, who was an excellent carpenter, 

 took the measurement of the house, and advised me 

 to build a ten-foot mosquito-netted veranda on 

 the entrance and south sides rather than make it 

 eight foot all round. He explained how useful 

 would be such an addition as a summer parlour, but 

 I insisted that only the complete circumference of 

 a veranda could make the cottage possible ; and 

 that one could easily add mosquito netting and 

 dividing doors when summer came. He smiled and 

 said nothing — just as I now smile and say nothing 

 when I hear new-comers discuss the plans of next 

 summer ; and I determined to drive into town the 

 next day to find a carpenter and make the necessary 

 arrangements. 



On the shady side-walk in South Qu'Appelle 

 I met an Englishwoman who seemed like an old 

 friend, since she and her husband had pitched their 

 tent one midsummer night on my brother's terri- 

 tory. As a matter of fact, all the hospitality had 

 been on their side, since they bestowed upon us a 

 much-needed candle and strawberry jam, whilst all 

 that was asked of us was boiling water and space for 

 the tent. But the visit had been an event in our 

 sojourn on the prairie. He was a barrister, and I 

 purposely had not asked his advice about the pur- 

 chase of the farm lest he should side with my 

 brother and sister. But I asked her to recommend 

 us a carpenter. 



She spoke highly of one who was just then 

 employed at the Church House. I went in and 

 told him my business, and he said he would draw 

 up the estimate immediately and give me the list 

 of the lumber required ; but for the estimate of that 



