he braced himself and looked about with keen curiosity. The drive curved and a bank of shrubs on one side obstructed his view, but the Scar rose in front, with patches of

might have been laid with a spirit level. Festing had seen no

ut roses bloomed about the windows and bright-red geraniums in urns grew upon the wall. He heard bees humming and a faint wind in the beech tops, but the shadows scarcely moved upon the grass

r and the dark, polished rosewood had dull reflections; some music lay about, but not in disorder, and he noted the delicate modeling of the cabinet with diamond panes it had been taken from. He knew nothing about furniture, but he had an

house as a place in which one ate and slept, but did not expect it to mold one's character. Surroundings like this were no doub

irst and much alike. It was as if they had faded prematurely from breathing too rarefied an atmosphere and shutting out rude b

would come," she said in a low, sweet voice,

me they tactfully avoided the object of his visit and aske

garden. Shall w

ain dress. He noted the unconscious grace of her pose as she turned towards him, and her warm color, which seemed to indicate a sanguine temperament. Helen Dalton was all

o talk to Mr. Festing," Mrs. Dalt

thought must cost her much, and moving

would come," he said. "You

s. "He hinted that you would explain matters. I th

's, but it had a firmer note. He could be frank with

Bob hadn't insisted--" He paused and pulled himself together. "On the surface, of course, his conduct l

he agreed quietly. "

ges. For all that, the line he took was strong; he showed how Charnock's embarrassments prevented his offering her comforts she would find needful and saving her

he winter and she had remarked a change. Bob was not altogether the man she had thought; there were things that jarred, and his letters gradually made this plainer. Still she had meant to keep

be grateful, but you both start from a wrong point. Why do

ob was right. The life is too hard for a girl brought up like you." He

the lawn. A heavy smell of flowers came from the borders and the house seemed to be sleeping in the hot sunshine. Everything was beautiful, well-ordered, and tranquil, but he knew if he stayed there long he

now he has lost his farm?

settlement, and he'll manage the hotel and store and poolroom for Kelle

proprietor give th

r," Festing answere

ho is

Helen was puzzled and suspicious. Her

aid. "Don'

"I don't know! It looks as if Bob had not told me the most impo

y, and he tried to conquer his indignant rage. Charnock had let him believe he

you knew,"

ith an effort for calm. "But tell

She's rather pretty and intelligent. In fact

her well since y

ng, "everybody c

room? I understand the latter

with Charnock he did not want Helen to think the fellow had given her up for a worthless rival.

ite a good sort and understands Bob-perhaps better than an English girl co

will be lenient to her husband's faults?

s something. I mean she won't let him sink below her level; Sadie's shrewd and determined. Then marriage is a problem to men l

h a lower type? With any g

fair," Festing objected. "Be

mple, be satisfied with

utious firmness. "Anyway, not now I've s

d said nothing for a few

I must thank you for the way you have carried it out. We

ny questions or hinted

sn't interested! Well, you can tell her about Bob's losses and farming

again. He was glad to leave because he thought the interview had been difficult for Helen, but her mother had made him feel that if he came back he wou

he knew what it cost, and her smile had roused his pity because it was so brave. Then his anger against Charnock returned with extra force. The fellow, as usual, had shirked his duty, and left him to tell the girl he had really given her up because he meant to marry somebod

he sped past the cart upon the grassy margin of the road and laughed as he went on. His mood had changed and he resolved that he would go back to the

s satisfied with relating Charnock's financial troubles and said nothing about his engagement to Sadie. He could not say

ed. "Besides, I expected that Helen would give you leave to tel

t Miss Dalton t

ed her; Helen is much too good for him. I suppose you thought you took

ldn't stand the strain sh

she tak

e didn't think it much of a rea

I don't th

en to Canada. T

have broken down y

used to hardships and discomfo

ude! Then men alone hav

s us in the moral kind-I'm sure Miss Dalton has more than Charnock. But

don't know she's the best tennis player in the county and a daring rock-climber. Girl

red steadily: "I am going back, but not for some time

ther nice. But you talked about going to see th

arming, and I'm getting the habit of lazy e

don't want you to be away when we have arranged something to amuse you; and then, as I know the mountains, I c

tful smile that hinted that she had begun to make an amusing plan. Muriel w