Phil set to work hauling out the stores, but Katherine as usual went in to chat with Mrs.M'Kree, who looked upon her visits with the utmost pleasure.
"I expect it is the last time we shall come up by sledge this season," said Katherine.

"But in case the ice is troublesome, and we can't get a canoe through for a week or two, we have brought you double stores." "That is a good thing, for we are all blessed with healthy appetites up here, and it isn't pleasant to even think of going on short commons," replied Mrs.M'Kree.

"But do wait until I've read this letter, for there may be news in it, and there is so little of that sort of thing here that we ought to share any tidings from outside that may happen to get through." "Perhaps Mr.M'Kree would rather read his letter first himself," suggested Katherine, who would have preferred not to hear about anything that letter might contain.

She guessed it was from Mr.
Selincourt, and for that reason shunned anything to do with it.
"Astor has gone across to Fort Garry to-day; he started at dawn, and a pretty stiff journey he'll have before he gets back: but I warned him not to go, for I smelled the rain coming when I put my head outside this morning; my nose is worth two of his, for he can't smell weather, and never could," Mrs.M'Kree answered, pulling a hairpin from her head and preparing to slit open the envelope in her hand.
"Still, he might rather that his letter waited for him unopened," murmured Katherine; but Mrs.M'Kree was already deep in her husband's correspondence, and paid no heed at all.
"Oh! oh! what do you think!" she cried a moment later, giving an excited jump, which so startled Katherine that she jumped too.
"How should I know what to think ?" she said; then was angry to find that she was trembling violently.
"Mr.Selincourt hopes to arrive in June, and he is going to bring his daughter with him," announced Mrs.M'Kree with a shout, waving the letter in a jubilant fashion.
"Impossible!" remarked Katherine scornfully, the colour dying out of her face.

"The first steamers can't get through Hudson Strait until the first week in July." "They are not coming that way, but straight from Montreal by way of Lake Temiskaming.