"Thorne fired the things, you see, as quick as he could lift them; first the chairs and table, then the whole outfit of plates and cups and pots and pans. When he got half-way through, Bishop, who was horror-struck, made a protest. Thorne told him he would have the things put out, and out they were going."
Mrs. Hunter laughed and addressed her guest.
"Did you get a bump on your forehead on that occasion? Still, I suppose one could manage it by falling out of a wagon."
"I didn't," replied Thorne. "For any further particulars about this one I'm afraid you must apply at the settlement; but it seems to me that the subject I'm most anxious to talk about is being tactfully avoided."
"When you have so many friends up and down the prairie, why did you come to Elcot?"
"Your husband," explained Thorne unblushingly, "has the most money. Each will, however, be provided with an opportunity for contributing according to his ability. I'll borrow a team from one and a plow from another; the man who can't spare either can lend me a mower. In addition to this I'll have to arrange a second loan."
"Do you mean to stay with it?" Hunter asked.
"Give me a show and I'll convince you," Thorne assured him with a sudden intentness in his eyes. "I'm dead serious now."
Hunter looked at him quietly for a minute or two before he answered.
"Then," he said, "I'll guarantee you for a thousand dollars, payable after harvest."
Thorne thanked him and presently strolled away to get something out of his wagon. When he disappeared Florence turned to her husband.
"Elcot," she protested, "you are going to throw every dollar of that money away."
"I'm far from sure of it," returned Hunter quietly.
"In any case, it's only a few days since you told me you couldn't face the expense when I said that I wanted to spend a month in Toronto this spring."
"I should like to point out that you spent a good deal of the winter in Montreal."
"Would you expect me to live here altogether?"
"I did expect something of that kind once upon a time; I'm sorry you have made it clear that I was wrong."
Florence favored him with a mocking smile.
"After all, you have stood it rather well. It's only during the last few months you have been getting bitter; but that's beside the question. Why are you so willing to waste on that man the money you can't spare for me?"