344 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



prospect of many such days on end distinctly 

 monotonous. 



The shadow of event was in the atmosphere as I 

 took my supper. Over my last cup of tea, hand in 

 hand they broke the news to me they were not 

 happy, and that they should go. 



I was furious ! I had paid him good wages for 

 slow work, as except for the hauling and stacking 

 Mr. Wilton's work at that time was too slow to be 

 valuable in the actual land-work of a Canadian 

 farm, and just as we were entering into the place 

 where I should score — because I knew they would 

 be honest, conscientious, kind, and careful care- 

 takers — they were going ! I told them what I 

 thought in few words, adding, " I am fifty dollars 

 out of pocket." 



" And what are we ? " said Mr. Wilton. " We 

 smashed thirty dollars' worth of furniture coming 

 up the hill." 



" Heaven and earth ! " said I. " Do you dare sit 

 there and quote the natural result of your own 

 lack of foresight and common sense, and charge it 

 up against me. That is quite enough ; if you are 

 going the sooner the better, and also the less said 

 the better." 



In the two days' interval I went on with my wood- 

 gathering, and always with increasing success. The 

 hard work and the satisfaction I got out of it, and 

 the anger I had got rid of at the moment left no 

 place for malice. 



" My wife and I would like to walk into the 

 Fort to-morrow to look at houses," said Mr. 

 Wilton. 



" There is no occasion to walk," I said. " Take 



