Another Clue It was fully a fortnight after this before Katherine and Miles found any opportunity for going fishing.

Then there came a day when they had to take a load of stores up beyond the second portage, to the house of Astor M'Kree, and they decided to bring a load of fish back with them if possible, as the store which Katherine had bought from Waywassimo was beginning to run low.
Their father seemed better that day, and was able to look after the store with the help of Phil.
Katherine too was bright and lively this morning, as if there were no dark shadow of trouble in her life.

Sometimes she was fearfully sick at heart with the remembrance of her father's confidence, and a dread of what the summer might bring; but at other times, on days like this, she took comfort in the ice, the snow, and the searching cold.

Winter was not nearly over yet, a hundred things might happen before the summer came, and so her high spirits pushed the dark shadow to one side and for a brief space forgot all about it.
She was especially blithe of heart to-day, and so had donned a skirt of scarlet blanket cloth, which matched in hue the woollen cloud she wrapped about her head.

On other days, when her mood was more sombre, she wore a dark-blue skirt, like the thick, fur-lined coat which was put on every time she left the house.
"How gay you look, Katherine!" exclaimed Mrs.Burton, as her sister came dancing into the kitchen, where she was making bread.
"But what a pity to put on that scarlet skirt if you are going to bring fish home!" "I shan't spoil it, or if I do I will wear it spoiled until it drops into rags," replied Katherine.