OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



stant Improver broke out, after a long silence one even- 

 ing, a silence broken only at intervals by deep sounds 

 of muttered content. 



"For what?" I asked in amazement. "Is it an an- 

 imal? For I really think that we have all we can look 

 after already." 



"No, it's not an animal," he reassured me, "it's a 

 lookout. From 'gaze about' I suppose; perhaps it's 

 Scotch." 



"Well," I commented, seeing I was expected to say 

 something, "those observatories as the country people 

 call them are anything but picturesque." 



"Yes. I know. But mine will be all right. From 

 that big maple on top of the hill you can see the whole 

 length of the lake and the prairies on the other side." 



"How are you going to get there? To the top I 

 mean?" 



"Oh! steps. I'm not going to build it right away. 

 I 'm just trying to decide which tree has the most ex- 

 tended view." 



Steps rarely appeal to a woman; neither had I then 



276 



