eir work with Ranald.

The timber cut that year was the largest that had ever been known on the
Upper Ottawa. There was great crowding of rafts on the drive, and for
weeks the chutes were full, and when the rafts were all brought together
at Quebec, not only were the shores lined and Timber Cove packed, but
the broad river was full from Quebec to Levis, except for the steamboat
way which must be kept open.

For the firm of Raymond & St. Clair this meant enormous increase of
business, and it was no small annoyance that at this crisis they should
have detected their Quebec agent in fraud, and should have been forced
to dismiss him. The situation was so critical that Mr. St. Clair
himself, with Harry as his clerk, found it necessary to spend a month in
Quebec. He took with him Maimie and her great friend Kate Raymond, the
daughter of his partner, and established himself in the Hotel Cheval
Blanc.

On the whole, Maimie was not sorry to visit the ancient capital of
Canada, though she would have chosen another time. It was rather
disappointing to leave her own city in the West, just at the beginning
of the spring gayeties. It was her first season, and the winter had been
distinguished by a series of social triumphs. She was the toast of all
the clubs and the belle of all the balls. She had developed a rare and
fascinating beauty, and had acquired an air so distingue that even her
aunt, Miss St. Clair, was completely satisfied. It was a little hard for
her to leave the scene of her triumphs and to abandon the approaching
gayeties.

But Quebec had its compensations, and then there were the De Lacys, one
of the oldest English families of Quebec. The St. Clairs had known them
for many years. Their blood was unquestionably blue, they were wealthy,
and besides, the only son and representative of the family was now
lieutenant, attached to the garrison at the Citadel. Lieutenant De
Lacy suggested possibilities to Maimie. Quebec might be endurable for a
month.

"What a lovely view, and how picturesque!"

Maimie was standing at the window looking down upon the river with its
fleet of rafts. Beside her stood Kate, and at another window Harry.

"What a lot of timber!" said Harry. "And the town is just full of
lumbermen. A fellow said there must be six thousand of them, so there
will be lots of fun."

"Fun!" exclaimed Kate.

"Fun! rather. These fellows have been up in the woods for some five
or six months, and when they get to