The Pioneers

By late March, trade has died back down again. Louisa has become a de-facto member of the household. Oliver has largely taken to his new position, though still evidences the occasional moment of disgust towards Temple. On the last day of March, Richard invites Elizabeth and Louisa to come with him to see a view of the lake, stopping at Billy Kirby’s sugar bush. Temple, Oliver, and Le Quoi opt to come as well.

Because of the cycle of severe frosts during the night, which then melt during the day, the riding is tough. Richard, leading the group, tells Temple that he should utilize science to encourage sugar production. Temple counters that his first priority “is to protect the sources of this great mine of comfort and wealth from the extravagance of the people themselves” (224) and only after that is accomplished will he turn his attention to increasing production. Richard brags about the grand experiments and plans he would put into place if he were in charge, and Elizabeth mocks his delusions of grandeur. Temple says that, in time, the maple sugar they make here may be as refined as the cane sugar produced in the plantations of the West Indies, where Le Quoi had spent time.