to contrive. You will naturally call on my father; if he likes you, he
will bring you home to dinner."

Ambrose smiled with obscure meaning. "He will never do that," he said.

"Why not?" demanded Colina.

"My partner and I are free-traders," he explained; "the only
free-traders of any account in the Company's territory. Naturally they
are bitter against us."

"But business is one thing and hospitality another," said Colina.

"You do not know what hard feeling there is in the fur trade," he
suggested.

"You do not know my father," she retorted.

"Only by reputation," said Ambrose.

The shade of meaning in his voice was not lost on her. Her cheeks
became warm. "All white men who come to the post dine with us as a
matter of course," she said. "We owe you the hospitality. I invite
you now in his name and my own."

"I would rather you asked him about me first," said Ambrose.

This made Colina really angry. "I do not consult him about household
matters," she said stiffly.