272 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



moment I had no choice and had to cook breakfast 

 for another I simply longed to sulk, to refuse to do 

 a single thing, and to remain in bed until the winter 

 had really and truly gone on its way. However, the 

 porridge was cooked, and the bacon and potatoes, 

 when Roddy McMahon came in like a big hurricane, 

 covered with snowflakes and his face alight with 

 good tidings. 



" You've got a new horse," said he. 



If anyone had reason to sulk that day it was the 

 new horse, Nancy's first foal. Nancy didn't seem 

 to possess all the knowledge mothers are supposed 

 to have on these occasions, but she was simply 

 bubbling over with pride and pleasure and maternal 

 anxiety at the curious creature at her side. And 

 Felicity was curious. Skye, the two-year-old pinto 

 pony that my neighbour had bought of Danny 

 McLeay when I bought Tommy, was her sire ; and 

 Felicity was a pinto too, with one wicked Skye-like 

 grey eye and another most lovable Nancy-like 

 velvet brown eye ; but in form she was absolutely 

 perfect, and life on the prairie brought her glorious 

 health and strength. 



" Do you know what I should do with that brute 

 in the stable if it was mine ? " said my neighbour 

 after the first glimpse at her. 



" What brute ? " I asked. 



" Nancy's foal. I should wring the creature's 

 neck before anyone could see it." 



" Nancy adores her," I answered, " and so do I." 



Nancy from the first allowed me a big share in 

 the care of the baby, who was the happiest thing in 

 the world ; and in spite of all the ills that blow in 

 with wind and weather the name Felicity became 



