y-Plant, who rose,
and looking kindly at Mrs Campbell and the girls, without speaking,
followed John out of the hut. Malachi certainly was not very polite,
for he walked off, in company with John and the squaw, without taking
the trouble to say "Good-bye." It must, however, be observed that he
was in conversation with Martin, who accompanied them on the way.

The winter had now become very severe. The thermometer was twenty
degrees below freezing point, and the cold was so intense, that every
precaution was taken against it. More than once Percival, whose
business it was to bring in the firewood, was frost-bitten, but as Mrs
Campbell was very watchful, the remedy of cold snow was always
successfully applied. The howling of the wolves continued every night,
but they were now used to it, and the only effect was, when one came
more than usually close to the house, to make Oscar raise his head,
growl, listen awhile, and then lie down to sleep again. Oscar became
very fond of the girls, and was their invariable companion whenever they
left the house.

Alfred, Martin, and Henry went out almost daily on hunting excursions;
indeed, as there were no crops in the barn, they had little else to do.
Mr Campbell remained at home with his wife and nieces; occasionally,
but not very often, Percival accompanied the hunters; of Malachi and
John they saw but little; John returned about every ten days, but
although he adhered to his promise, his anxiety to go back to Malachi
was so very apparent, and he was so restless, that Mrs Campbell rather
wished him to be away, than remain at home so much against his will.

Thus passed away the time till the year closed in; confined as they were
by the severity of the weather, and having little or nothing to do, the
winter appeared longer and more tedious than it would have done if they
had been settled longer, and had the crops to occupy their attention;
for it is in the winter that the Canadian farmer gets through all his
thrashing and other work connected with his farm, preparatory for the
coming spring. This being their first winter, they had, of course, no
crops gathered in, and were, therefore, in want of employment. Mrs
Campbell and her nieces worked and read, and employed themselves in
every way that they could, but constantly shut up within doors, they
could not help feeling the monotony and _ennui_ of their situation. The
young men found occupation and amusement in the chase; the