320 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



asked, as I searched for cream in the cellar of what 

 I thought was my empty house. 



" Oh, I shall keep him," I answered. " It's of 

 no use to pay a man full wages up to harvest just 

 to secure his service through harvest, and let him 

 go at the very time you need him." 



" Is he a very good man ? " she asked. 



" Yes, he is a good all-round man when he 

 chooses very only he is like most newcomers in 

 this country, very slow." 



Meantime Pat had returned and heard my 

 verdict from his room. My wrath had burnt itself 

 out over Thomas. I was prepared to behave to 

 Pat as though nothing had happened. Undoubtedly 

 an old temptation had overtaken him, and I could 

 not forget that in the several weeks through which 

 he had worked for me there had been no sign of 

 such a weakness, and that the simple Irish labourer 

 had behaved as a gentleman. 



" Have you had food to-day, Pat ? " I inquired. 



" Not a crumb." 



I cooked him some beefsteak and made him some 

 strong tea ; it inspired confidence. 



" You'll be giving me the dollars to pay back 

 Mr. Dennison the fine ? " he ventured. " Fifteen 

 dollars." 



" Yes, I'll let you have it at once. It was rather 

 an expensive adventure, wasn't it ? " 



" Faith, miss, it's cruel ! An' not a scrap of 

 breakfast. I'll say that for them in the auld country 

 jails, they'll always be giving you your breakfast." 



Shortly after I met my neighbour and he spoke 

 of the affair. 



" I suppose you know he is talking of quitting 



