It was her ambition so to live among them that they might love her--trust her--use her.
Meanwhile their own home was a "temple of industrious peace." Elizabeth was a prairie housewife like her neighbours.

She had indeed brought out with her from Cumberland one of the Martindale gardeners and his young wife and sister; and the two North-Country women shared with the farm mistress the work of the house, till such time as Anderson should help the husband to a quarter-section of his own, and take someone else to train in his place.

But the atmosphere of the house was one of friendly equality.

Elizabeth--who had herself gone into training for a few weeks at St.Anne's--prided herself on her dairy, her bread, her poultry.

One might have seen her, on this winter afternoon, in her black serge dress with white cap and apron, slipping into the kitchen behind the dining-room, testing the scones in the oven, looking to the preparations for dinner, putting away stores, and chatting to the two clear-eyed women who loved her, and would not for the world have let her try her strength too much! For she who was so eagerly planning the help of others must now be guarded and cherished herself--lest ill befall! But now she was at the window watching for Anderson.
The trail from Donaldminster to Battleford passed in front of the house, dividing the farm.