“The promise of a large grant of land, and the false statements we heard regarding it.”
“Do you like the country?”
“No; and I fear I never shall.”
“I thought not; for the drop is always on your cheek, the children tell me; and those young ones have keen eyes. Now, take my advice: return while your money lasts; the longer you remain in Canada the less you will like it; and when your money is all spent, you will be like a bird in a cage; you may beat your wings against the bars, but you can't get out.” There was a long pause. I hoped that my guest had sufficiently gratified her curiosity, when she again commenced:—
“How do you get your money? Do you draw it from the old country, or have you it with you in cash?”
Provoked by her pertinacity, and seeing no end to her cross-questioning, I replied, very impatiently, “Mrs. R——, is it the custom in your country to catechise strangers whenever you meet with them?”
“What do you mean?” she said, colouring, I believe, for the first time in her life.
“I mean,” quoth I, “an evil habit of asking impertinent questions.”
The old woman got up, and left the house without speaking another word.