“There are two windows, one to the south, the other looking west.  The western view is magnificent.  I feel as if I could see straight away to the setting sun!  In the summer, when the prairie is one great waving green sea, it must be superb.  Two days ago it was covered with snow.  As I write, I can see great patches of brown every here and there, for we have had a sudden thaw.  The window sills are filled with geraniums planted, my dear, in tins which once contained syrup, of which everyone here, including my brother, seems extravagantly fond.  The syrup jug appears regularly at every meal and is almost the first thing put on the table.  I have yet to acquire a taste for it—­which they all think extremely queer.

“The furniture consists of two American rockers and a number of kitchen chairs; an unvarnished deal dresser covered with earthenware;—­I don’t think there are any two pieces that match!—­two tables, one a dining table; a bookcase containing a few paper-backed novels and some magazines, none so recent, however, as those I saw before I left England; and last and most important, an enormous American cooking stove.

“Our principal meal, called dinner, is——­”

Great heavens, her bread!

Nora dashed from her room.  Gertie was standing at one of the windows in the unwonted indulgence of a moment’s leisure.  Nora threw open the oven door.  It was empty.

“Oh, did you look after my loaf, Gertie?  I’m so sorry; I quite forgot it.”

“Yes, I took it out a few moments ago.”

She still had her face turned toward the window, so Nora did not see the smile that curled her lip.  She turned after a moment, and the two women began to set the table for dinner.

Presently the men were heard laughing outside as they cleaned their muddy boots on the scraper.  Reggie had apparently achieved something new.  His ignorance of everything pertaining to farming furnished the material for most of the amusement that was going.  Fortunately, he was always good-natured.  Gertie, with unusual good spirits, entered into the joke of the thing at once and even bantered Reggie playfully upon his latest discovery.

Nora did not even hear what it was all about.  She was searching for the bread plate which always stood on the dresser.

“Why, Gertie, I——­”

“It’s all right,” said Gertie, without looking up from pouring the tea.  “I took it.  I’ll get it in a minute.  Come, sit down.”

Nora obeyed.

Hornby was just about to begin his explanation for whatever it was he had done, when Eddie interrupted him: 

“Hold on a minute, Reg.  I want some bread.  I declare you two girls are getting to be as bad as Reggie, here.  Setting a table without bread!”

“I was keeping it for a surprise,” said Gertie, getting up slowly.  “I want you to appreciate the fact that Nora helped me by doing the baking this morning.”  Nora’s face flushed with pleasure as her brother patted her on the shoulder with evident approval.  She looked at Gertie with eyes shining with gratitude.  At that moment she came nearer liking her sister-in-law than she ever was to again.