Bessie remained with them until the last of February, when her father drove the dogs over to take her home, as many of the trappers were expected in from their trails about the first of March to spend a few days at the Post, and her mother needed her help with the additional work that this entailed.  Emily was loath to part from her, but her father promised that she should return again for a visit as soon as the break-up came and before the fishing commenced.

Douglas Campbell was very good to the Grays, and at least once each week, and sometimes oftener, walked over to spend the day and cheer them up.  Often he brought some little delicacy for Emily, and she looked forward to his visits with much pleasure.

One day towards the last of May he asked Emily: 

“How’d un like t’ go t’ St. Johns an’ have th’ doctors make a fine, strong maid of un again?  I’m thinkin’ th’ mother’s needin’ her maid t’ help her now.”

“Oh, I’d like un fine, sir!” exclaimed Emily.

“I’m thinkin’ we’ll have t’ send un.  ’Twill be a long while away from home.  You won’t be gettin’ lonesome now?”

“I’m fearin’ I’ll be gettin’ lonesome for mother, but I’ll stand un t’ get well an’ walk again.”

“Now does un hear that,” said Douglas to Mrs. Gray, who at that moment came in from out of doors.  “Your little maid’s goin’ t’ St. Johns t’ have th’ doctors make she walk again, so she can be helpin’ wi’ th’ housekeepin’.”

“The’s no money t’ send she,” said Mrs. Gray sadly. “‘Tis troublin’ me wonderful, an’ I’m not knowin’ what t’ do—­’tis troublin’ me so.”

“I’m thinkin’ th’ money’ll be found t’ send she—­I’m knowin’ ‘twill,” Douglas prophesied convincingly.  “Ed were sayin’ Bob had a rare lot o’ fur that he’d caught before th’—­before th’ New Year—­a fine lot o’ martens an’ th’ silver foxes.  Them’ll pay Bob’s debt an’ pay for th’ maid’s goin’ too.  That’s what Bob were wantin’.”

“Did Ed say now as Bob were gettin’ all that fur?” she asked.  “I were feelin’ so sore bad over Bob’s goin’ I were never hearin’ un—­I were not thinkin’ about th’ lad’s fur—­I were thinkin’ o’ he.”

“Aye, Ed were sayin’ that.  Emily must be ready t’ go on th’ cruise t’ meet th’ first trip o’ th’ mail boat.  Th’ maid must be leavin’ here by th’ last o’ June,” planned Douglas.

“But we’ll not be havin’ th’ money then—­not till th’ men comes out, an’ then we has t’ sell th’ fur first t’ get th’ money,” Mrs. Gray explained.  “Then—­then I hopes th’ maid may go.  ’Tis what Bob were goin’ t’ th’ bush for—­an’ takin’ all th’ risks for—­my poor lad—­he were countin’ on un so——­”

“We’ll not be waitin’.  We’ll not be waitin’. I has th’ money now an’ th’ maid must be goin’ th’ first trip o’ th’ mail boat,” said Douglas, in an authoritative manner.

“Oh, Douglas, you be wonderful good—­so wonderful good.”  And Mrs. Gray began to cry.