CHAPTER XXIX.

The first day at home—A gallop in the prairie, and its consequences.

EXT morning, as the quartette were at breakfast,

Mr. Kennedy, senior, took occasion to propound

to his.son the plans he had laid down for them during the
next week.

“In the first place, Charley, my boy,” said he, as well
as a large mouthful of buffalo steak and potato would
permit, “you must drive up to the fort and report your-
self. Harry and I will go with you; and after we have
paid our respects.to old Grant (another cup of tea, Kate,
my darling)—you recollect him, Charley, don’t you?”

“Yes, perfectly.”

“Well, then, after we've been to see him, we'll drive
down the river, and call on our friends at the mill. Then
we'll look in on the Thomsons ; and give a call, in passing,
on old Neverin—he’s always out, so he'll be pleased to
hear we were there, and it won’t detain us. Then—”

“ But, dear father—excuse my interrupting you—Harry
and I are very anxious to spend our first day at home
entirely with you and Kate. Don’t you think. it would
be more pleasant? and then, to-morrow—”

“Now, Charley, this is too bad of you,” said Mr.
Kennedy, with a look of affected indignation: “no
sooner have you come back than you're at your old
tricks, opposing and thwarting your father’s wishes.”

“Indeed, I do not wish to do go, father,” replied
Charley, with a smile; “ but I thought that you would