Four callers from three different quarters converging upon her, truly nothing more was needed to fill her with delightful excitement.

An evening indeed to be remembered! "There! You are forever saying that we are buried in the woods and see no company," triumphed her husband.

"Count them over: eleven grown-up people!" Every chair in the house was filled; Esdras, Tit'Be and Eutrope Gagnon occupied the bench, Chapdelaine, a box turned upside down; from the step Telesphore and Alma Rose watched the mounting smoke.
"And look," said Ephrem Surprenant, "how many young fellows and only one girl!" The young men were duly counted: three Chapdelaines, Eutrope Gagnon, Lorenzo Surprenant, Francois Paradis.

As for the one girl ...

Every eye was turned upon Maria, who smiled feebly and looked down, confused.
"Had you a good trip, Francois ?-He went up the river with strangers to buy furs from the Indians," explained Chapdelaine; who presented to the others with formality-"Francois Paradis, son of Francois Paradis from St.Michel de Mistassini." Eutrope Gagnon knew him by name, Ephrem Surprenant had met his father:--"A tall mall, taller still than he, of a strength not to be matched." it only remained to account for Lorenzo Surprenant,-"who has come, home from the States"-and all the conventions had been honoured.
"A good trip," answered Francois.