She agreed at once. So we all got ready; I
brought the horses out and hooked them up, alone--no
trouble from them this morning: they were quiet enough
when they drank deep at the well.
A few whirls of snow had come down meanwhile--not enough,
however, as yet to show as a new layer on the older snow.
Again a cloud had torn loose from that squall-bag on the
horizon, and again it showed that cottony, fringy, whitish
under layer which meant snow. I raised the top of the
cutter and fastened the curtains.
By the time we three piled in, the thin flakes were
dancing all around again, dusting our furs with their
thin, glittering crystals. I bandied baby-talk with the
little girl to make things look cheerful, but there was
anguish in the young woman's look. I saw she would like
to ask me to stay over till Monday, but she knew that I
considered it my duty to get back to town by night.
The short drive to the neighbour's place was pleasant
enough. There was plenty of snow on this part of the
correction line, which farther east was bare; and it was
packed down by abundant traffic. Then came the parting.
I kissed wife and child; and slowly, accompanied by much
waving of hands on the part of the little girl and a
rather depressed looking smile on that of my wife, I
turned on the yard and swung back to the road.
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