falls tomorrow. He sails for Europe immediately, and has no other day."

The Boston rigidity perceptibly returned.

"Oh, if that is all, you needn't have had a moment's trouble. I can just
as well put off my visit."

"Oh, can you?" cried Mason, joyously.

His wife sat down in the rocking-chair with a sigh of despair. Her
infatuated husband thought he was getting along famously.

"Then your friends are not waiting for you at Quebec this time, and you
can stay a day or two with us."

"Eva's friends are at Montreal, Edward, and she cannot stay."

"Oh, then--why, then, to-morrow's _your_ only day, too?"

"It doesn't matter in the least, Mr. Mason. I shall be most glad to put
off my visit to oblige your friend--no, I didn't mean that," she cried,
seeing the look of anguish on Mason's face, "it is to oblige you. Now,
am I not good?"

"No, you are cruel," replied Mason. "You are going up to the falls. I
insist on that. Let's take that as settled. The canoe is yours." He
caught an encouraging look from his wife. "If you want to torture me you
will say you will not go. If you want to do me the greatest of favours,
you will let my friend go in the canoe with you to the landing."