UNGAVA. 27

Has Prince refused? are Francois, Gaspard, and Massan
cowards ?” she inquired, her eye kindling with indigna-
tion.

“Nay, my wife, not so. These men are not cowards ;
nevertheless they don’t feel inclined to go; and as for
Dick Prince, he has been off hunting for a week, and I
don’t expect him back for three weeks at least, by which
time we shall be off.”

Mrs. Stanley sighed, as if she felt the utter helpless-
ness-of woman in such affairs.

“Why, Jessie, that’s what you used to say to me when
you were at a loss for words in the days of our court-
ship,” said Stanley, smiling.

“Ah, George, like you I may say that the cause is
now perplexity ; for what can J do to help you in your
present difficulty ?”

“Truly not much. But I like to tell you of my
troubles, and to make more of them than they deserve,
for the sake of drawing forth your sympathy. Bless
your heart!” he said, in a sudden burst of enthusiasm,
“T would gladly undergo any amount of trouble every
day, if by so doing I should secure that earnest, loving,
anxious gaze of your sweet blue eyes as a reward!”
Stanley imprinted a hearty kiss on his wife’s cheek as
he made this lover-like speech, and then rose to place
his fowling-piece on the pegs from which it usually
hung over the fire-place.

At that moment the door opened, and a little girl,
with bright eyes and flaxen hair, bounded into the
room.

“QO mamma, mamma!” she said, holding up a sheet
of paper, while a look of intense satisfaction beamed on
her animated countenance, “see, I have drawn Chimo’s
portrait. Is it like, mamma? Do you think it like?”

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