WHEAT SALES THE FALL LE BRET 61 



cost twelve dollars. The " suite " was really a 

 consolation through the years that followed. The 

 dressing-table consisted of two big drawers and a 

 bevelled mirror, eighteen inches by twenty- four ; 

 and none can fully appreciate a mirror of those dimen- 

 sions so truly as the one who has shared a hand-glass for 

 three months with two bachelor men on the prairie. 



The bath I had taken out from England sprung a 

 hopeless leak on the journey, so that directly we 

 left the shelter of canvas for four walls and a roof we 

 sent for one. On the day it arrived we stood like 

 pilgrims round a shrine whilst the twelve-dollar 

 masterpiece from Eaton's was safely delivered from 

 its wrappings, and carefully placed upon the floor 

 of the veranda. It was a thing of joy, and long 

 enough even for us. At last in perfect accord we 

 marvelled at its lustre, its convenience, its cheapness. 

 Hilaria, with the professional air which she reserved 

 as an effect from a voluntarily curtailed season of 

 hospital training, affirmed that the ingenious and 

 most convenient contrivance for letting out the 

 water alone was worth the money, and in the 

 delightful enthusiasm and anticipation of the 

 moment the matter of letting in the water entirely 

 escaped consideration. It struck my brother first. 



" How in the name of the prophets and all holy 

 wonders are we to fill it ? " he demanded. " The 

 well is three hundred yards off, and will run dry at 

 the very sight of it ! >: 



I felt it my duty to support the reputation of the 

 well which my predecessor assured me had cost 

 him a hundred dollars and had never been known 

 to run dry and I announced that the two stookers 

 would, of course, haul the water. 



