Chloe nodded:  “Certainly.”

“Very well, then you will find that these buildings which look so large and commodious to you now, must be crowded to the ceiling with your goods, while the walls of your fur lofts will fairly bulge with their weight of riches.  Fur is the ‘cash’ of the North, and the trader must make ample provision for its storage.  There are no banks in the wilderness; and the fur lofts are the vaults of the traders.”

“But, I don’t want to deal in fur!” objected the girl.  “I—­since you have told me of the terrible cruelty of the trappers, I hate fur!  I want nothing to do with it.  In fact, I shall do everything in my power to discountenance and discourage the trapping.”  Lapierre cleared his throat sharply—­coughed—­cleared it again.  Discourage trapping—­north of sixty!  Had he heard aright?  He swallowed hard, mumbled an apology anent the inhalation of a gnat, and answered in all seriousness.

“A worthy object, Miss Elliston—­a very worthy object; but one that will require time to consummate.  At present the taking of fur is the business of the North.  I may say, the only business of thousands of savages whose very existence depends upon their skill with the traps.  Fur is their one source of livelihood.  Therefore, you must accept the condition as it exists.  Think, if you refused to accept fur in exchange for your goods, what it would mean—­the certain and absolute failure of your school from the moment of its inception.  The Indians could not grasp your point of view.  You would be shunned for one demented.  Your goods would rot upon your shelves; for the simple reason that the natives would have no means of buying them.  No, Miss Elliston, you must take their fur until such time as you succeed in devising some other means by which these people may earn their living.”

“You are right,” agreed Chloe.  “Of course, I must deal in fur—­for the present.  Reform is the result of years of labour.  I must be patient.  I was thinking only of the cruelty of it.”

“They have never been taught,” said Lapierre with a touch of sadness in his tone.  “And, while we are on the subject, allow me to advise you to retain LeFroy as your chief trader.  He is an excellent man, is Louis LeFroy, and has had no little experience.”

“Do you think he will stay?” eagerly asked the girl.  “I should like to retain, not only LeFroy but a half-dozen others.”

“It shall be as you wish.  I shall speak to LeFroy and select also the pick of the crew.  They will be glad of a steady job.  The others I shall take with me.  I must gather my fur from its various caches and freight it to the railway.”

“You are going to the railway!  To civilization?”

“Yes, but it will take me three weeks to make ready my outfit.  And in this connection I may be of further service to you.  I must depart from here tonight.  Instruct LeFroy to make out his list of supplies for the winter.  Give him a free hand and tell him to fill the store-rooms.  The goods you have brought with you are by no means sufficient.  Three weeks from today, if I do not visit you in the meantime, have him meet me at Fort Resolution, and I shall be glad to make your purchases for you, at Athabasca Landing and Edmonton.”