He stifled a laugh. “We try to, madam.”
This answer was too indefinite to suit Mrs. Macartney. A suspicion was gaining ground in her mind that Halifax was not the military camp and collection of log houses that she had thought it to be.
“How many people are there in the town?” she inquired guilelessly.
“About forty thousand, madam.”
“In Halifax?” she asked hesitatingly, “or in the whole province?”
“In Halifax, madam. There are over four hundred and forty thousand in the province.”
Mrs. Macartney was considerably staggered. “And do you have shops and hotels and churches?”
“All three, madam.”
“I had an idea that Canadians sent to England for all the necessaries of life.”
“Just turn around, madam,” said the Nova Scotian.