ora, who sat up and yawned. Then she looked at
her sister, and being only half-awake, smiled in an imbecile manner.

"Isn't it?" asked Elsie.

"Splendid!" replied Cora, turning to the windows. "Oh, I'm _so_
sleepy!"

She sank on the pillow again and shut her eyes.

"Come, Cora, let us finish the discussion we began last night about
Louis Lambert," said Elsie, with an arch smile.

"No, I won't! Let me sleep. I hate Louis Lambert!" said Cora, with a
shake of her uppermost shoulder.

Elsie laughed and rose; she was already dressed. Mr Ravenshaw had on
the previous night ordered both his daughters to lie down in their
clothes, as no one could tell what might happen to the house at any
moment. The flood had not yet begun to abate; Elsie could tell that, as
she sat arranging her hair, from the sound of water gurgling through the
lower rooms.

We have said that the Ravenshaws had been driven by the floods to the
upper floor of their residence. This floor consisted of three bedrooms
and a lumber-room. One of the bedrooms was very small and belonged to
the sisters, to whose sole use it was apportioned. For convenience, the
other two rooms were set apart on this occasion as the male and the
female rooms of the establishment, one being used by as many of the
women as could get comfortably into it, the other by the men. The
overflow of the household, including those neighbours who had sought
refuge with the family, were accommodated in the adjoining barn, between
which and the main building communication was kept up by means of a
canoe, with Peegwish and Wildcat as the ferrymen. The lumber-room
having had most of its lumber removed, was converted into a general
hall, or _salon_, where the imprisoned family had their meals, received
their friends, and discussed their trials. It was a rather dusty place,
with sloping roof, no ceiling, and cross-beams, that caused cross
tempers in those who ran against them. In one corner a door, removed
from its hinges, did duty as a dresser. In another Mr Ravenshaw had
erected a small stove, on which, being rather proud of his knowledge of
cookery, he busied himself in spoiling a good deal of excellent food. A
couple of planks, laid on two trunks, served for a table. Such cooking
utensils and such portions of light furniture as were required had been
brought up from the rooms below, that which was left having been
weighted with large stones to prevent its being carried away,