ull of interesting descriptions. He didn't
like the work in the factory, but he liked the manager, and with the
determination to make his apprenticeship as short as possible and
gain a place in the office, he pegged away with a faithfulness and
energy that he felt sure must bring a speedy reward.

Not till the cold November nights came did Miss Eunice detect a
little note of homesickness creeping into his letters. She would not
have wondered could she have looked in on him while he wrote,
buttoned up in his overcoat and with his hat on. His chilly little
bedroom, with its dim lamp and worn matting, was a dismal contrast to
the cheerful home where he had always spent his winter evenings. Then
she noticed that there was nearly always some reference to the
restaurant fare, some longing expressed for one more taste of her
cooking--the good cream gravy, the mince turnovers, the crisp
doughnuts that had been his favourite dishes at home.

Once he wrote to Philippa:

"Think of it, Flip! I don't know a single girl in town.
Excepting my landlady, I haven't spoken to a woman since I
pulled out of the depot at Ridgeville two months ago. It seems
so strange to know only the factory fellows, when at home I
was acquainted with everybody. The manager, Mr. Windom, has a
pretty daughter whom I'd give a good deal to know. She drives
down to the office with him sometimes, and I see her at church.
She looks something like your chum, Nordic Gray, laughing sort
of eyes, and soft, light hair, and a saucy little nose like
your own."

Later, in a reply to a question from Miss Eunice, he wrote:

"No, I haven't put in my church letter yet. I took it with me
every Sunday for awhile, but I can't get screwed up to the
point, somehow. People here are so stand-offish with strangers.
I've gone pretty regularly, but nobody has spoken to me yet. I
suppose they think that a gawky country boy doesn't belong in
such a fashionable congregation. The minister doesn't come down
after service to shake hands with people, as Doctor Meldrum
does at home. They have a Christian Endeavour Society that I
think might be nice if there was any way of breaking the ice to
get into it. The young people seem to have the best kind of
times among themselves, but they don't seem to care for anybody
that hasn't the inside track in their exclusive little circle."

Then the letters grew