“I’ll come back and skin him for you when I have taken the cows home. Perhaps I can shoot something for your father’s supper, too, on my way.” “Oh, never mind that; he’s sure to bring home something, for he has gone to the McCormick’s new house, and that is some distance. But come back, do, and help me get my supper. I shall shut the door and window tight after this, for I want no more wolves for company, though I’d rather it were a wolf than an Indian.” “Your father expected that you were at our house,” said Archie, “perhaps you had better come with me.” “I must get the cow up first. Can you wait?” “Well enough. I will get our own cows at the same time; then while you are milking, I will skin the wolf, and then we can go together.” The tinkle of the cow-bells sounded not so far off and it was not long before Archie and Agnes were trudging along side by side, the carcass of the wolf having been thrown into the river and the hide stretched for drying. “And why didn’t you go to the house-raising?” asked Agnes. “Because I was needed at home.” “What will they be doing to-day?” “They’ll finish up the odds and ends; make some tables and stools and benches and get it ready for to-morrow.” “Then will come the housewarming. Did your mother and Jeanie get through all they expected?” “Yes, and they have a good feast for John. I am going to build a house when I am twenty-one.” Agnes laughed. “Whom will you put in it?” she asked saucily. “You.” “Archie M’Clean! How do you know you will?” “I say I will,” he replied doggedly. “I’ve as good a right as any one to choose my girl. I am eighteen, and many of the boys marry at my age; but if I wait three years, you will be eighteen then.” “Oh, but--No, no, Archie, I’m too young yet to think of such a thing. My father needs me, and my mother will be coming. I’ll think of nobody, of no lad, till I see my mother again. In three years--why, who knows?--you may change your mind; there’ll be many another girl in the settlement by then.” “And many another lad, maybe.” “Well, then, so much the better.” “I’ll not change my mind,” said Archie. “I’m not a great talker, Agnes, but I know what I want, and when I make up my mind I keep to it.” “And when did you make up your mind to build your house?” “That day when I saw you, when we were on the road here, and you were riding with Jeanie in the wagon. It was four months ago.” “You’ll be telling another tale four years from now. I’m too young; fifteen isn’t old enough to make any promises.” “It’s as old as my mother was.” “Maybe, but what is one man’s meat is another man’s poison.” “Am I poison?” “No; but that isn’t what I mean. Oh, no more nonsense, Archie, or I shall have to stay away from the housewarming, and that I do not want to do.” They were within sight of the M’Clean cabin, and Agnes ran on ahead, but, seeing Jeanie standing there, she ran back to Archie. “Don’t tell any one,” she said. “Tell what? About the wolf?”