104 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



her own dance suppers, which were perfect in ever^ 

 detail, convinced me that it must have been a truly 

 great occasion and worthy of a drive in the open 

 at 50 below. 

 / Again and again Heriot Hylton-Cave returned 

 to the topic of the supper, discussing it with Miss 

 Lister, who seemed ever ready to produce an 

 even yet more desirable detail from the historic 

 menu. 



" Ah ! " he exclaimed with a deep sigh, " I would 

 have given a dollar to be there ! " 



" I am sure you would," agreed Miss Lister. 



*' But mind you," he added, " I should have 

 eaten my dollar's worth ! " 



The party was such a success that in a few weeks 

 the bachelor gave another. I am not quite sure 

 whether it was curiosity or greediness that drew 

 me, but in spite of the prohibition of " Progressive 

 Bridge " in a corner of the card of invitation I went, 

 and nearly came through the ordeal of the game 

 with flying colours. But either the gods were at 

 my elbow and basely deserted at half-time, or I grew 

 unaccountably and miserably hungry, and towards 

 ten o'clock began to do everything that one shouldn't 

 in progressive bridge. I shall never forget the face 

 of my partner, who was regarded as a kind of pillar 

 of Fort Qu'Appelle and took bridge very solemnly 

 indeed. 



In its proper hour supper arrived, but this time 

 we fared Canadian fashion. Tiny chicken salads, 

 and many kinds of sandwiches with lemonade and 

 coffee, and a choice of strawberries and cream and 

 trifle were handed round, so that every one saw less 

 but ate more than on the memorable occasion. 



