eal. But, if I understand your
position, you intend to sell goods that are up to H.B.C. standard at
actual cost?"

Chloe nodded: "Certainly."

"Very well, then you will find that these buildings which look so large
and commodious to you now, must be crowded to the ceiling with your
goods, while the walls of your fur lofts will fairly bulge with their
weight of riches. Fur is the 'cash' of the North, and the trader must
make ample provision for its storage. There are no banks in the
wilderness; and the fur lofts are the vaults of the traders."

"But, I don't want to deal in fur!" objected the girl. "I--since you
have told me of the terrible cruelty of the trappers, I _hate fur_! I
want nothing to do with it. In fact, I shall do everything in my power
to discountenance and discourage the trapping." Lapierre cleared his
throat sharply--coughed--cleared it again. Discourage trapping--north
of sixty! Had he heard aright? He swallowed hard, mumbled an apology
anent the inhalation of a gnat, and answered in all seriousness.

"A worthy object, Miss Elliston--a very worthy object; but one that
will require time to consummate. At present the taking of fur is the
business of the North. I may say, the only business of thousands of
savages whose very existence depends upon their skill with the traps.
Fur is their one source of livelihood. Therefore, you must accept the
condition as it exists. Think, if you refused to accept fur in
exchange for your goods, what it would mean--the certain and absolute
failure of your school from the moment of its inception. The Indians
could not grasp your point of view. You would be shunned for one
demented. Your goods would rot upon your shelves; for the simple
reason that the natives would have no means of buying them. No, Miss
Elliston, you must take their fur until such time as you succeed in
devising some other means by which these people may earn their living."

"You are right," agreed Chloe. "Of course, I must deal in fur--for the
present. Reform is the result of years of labour. I must be patient.
I was thinking only of the cruelty of it."

"They have never been taught," said Lapierre with a touch of sadness in
his tone. "And, while we are on the subject, allow me to advise you to
retain LeFroy as your chief trader. He is an excellent man, is Louis
LeFroy, and has had no little experience."

"Do you think he will stay?" eagerly asked the girl. "I should like to