ure be comin' if he were
killed. He'd sure be doin' that so we could see un. But he's not been
comin', an' I'm thinkin' he's livin', just as you were sayin'. Bob'll
be home wi' th' break-up, mother, I'm thinkin'--wi' th' break-up,
mother, for his angel ha' never come, as un sure would if he were
dead."

On two or three other occasions after this--once in the night--Emily
called Mrs. Gray to her to reiterate this belief. She would not accept
even the possibility of Bob's death without first seeing his angel,
which she was so positive would come to visit them if he were really
dead; and it was this that kept back the grief that she would have
felt had she believed that she was never to see him again.

Bessie remained with them until the last of February, when her father
drove the dogs over to take her home, as many of the trappers were
expected in from their trails about the first of March to spend a few
days at the Post, and her mother needed her help with the additional
work that this entailed. Emily was loath to part from her, but her
father promised that she should return again for a visit as soon as
the break-up came and before the fishing commenced.

Douglas Campbell was very good to the Grays, and at least once each
week, and sometimes oftener, walked over to spend the day and cheer
them up. Often he brought some little delicacy for Emily, and she
looked forward to his visits with much pleasure.

One day towards the last of May he asked Emily:

"How'd un like t' go t' St. Johns an' have th' doctors make a fine,
strong maid of un again? I'm thinkin' th' mother's needin' her maid t'
help her now."

"Oh, I'd like un fine, sir!" exclaimed Emily.

"I'm thinkin' we'll have t' send un. 'Twill be a long while away from
home. You won't be gettin' lonesome now?"

"I'm fearin' I'll be gettin' lonesome for mother, but I'll stand un t'
get well an' walk again."

"Now does un hear that," said Douglas to Mrs. Gray, who at that moment
came in from out of doors. "Your little maid's goin' t' St. Johns t'
have th' doctors make she walk again, so she can be helpin' wi' th'
housekeepin'."

"The's no money t' send she," said Mrs. Gray sadly. "'Tis troublin' me
wonderful, an' I'm not knowin' what t' do--'tis troublin' me so."

"I'm thinkin' th' money'll be found t' send she--I'm _knowin'_
'twill," Douglas prophesied convincingly. "Ed were sayin' Bob had a
rare lot o' fur that he'd caught before th'--before th' New Year--a