"Jean said that you would
hardly be prepared for five, Melisse, so I accepted his invitation."
He took down from the wall a fur sledge-coat, in which Melisse had
mended a rent a day or two before, and, throwing it over his arm,
turned to leave.
"Jan!"
He faced her slowly, knowing that in spite of himself there was a
strangeness in his manner which she would not understand.
"Why are you going away the day after to-morrow--two weeks before the
others? You didn't tell me."
"I'm going a hundred miles into the South," he answered.
"Over the Nelson House trail?"
"Yes."
"Oh!" Her lips curled slightly as she looked at him. Then she laughed,
and a bright spot leaped into either cheek. "I understand, brother,"
she said softly. "Pardon me for questioning you so. I had forgotten
that the MacVeigh girl lives on the Nelson trail. Iowaka says that she
is as sweet as a wild flower. I wish you would have her come up and
visit us some time, Jan."
Jan's face went red, then white, but Melisse saw only the first effect
of her random shot, and was briskly gathering up the dishes.
"I turn off into the Cree Lake country before I reach MacVeighs'." he
was on the point of saying; but the words hung upon his lips, and he
remained silent.
A few minutes later he was talking with Jean de Gravois.
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