!" George exclaimed, and gasped with indignation.
"Anyhow, it matters to me. I've been fuming and fretting since I saw
your principal." He turned to the others, as if for support. "What can
you do with a girl who talks in this way? How'm I to make her
understand?"

"I think you had better wait a little," Mrs. Farnam said and glanced at
Agatha. "But did you travel in those clothes, my dear? Where did you buy
them?"

"At a bush store," said Agatha, smiling. "They were not as cheap as they
look, and my others had worn to rags. Besides, I hadn't much time, and
it wasn't worth while to bother about my dress."

"You don't seem to bother about much," George remarked. "In fact, you've
come back with a lordly calm that's as exasperating as it's
unjustifiable."

Agatha gave him a thoughtful look. "Is Florence well?"

"Quite well. She's disturbed about you."

"Then it's probably business! I suppose trade is bad?"

George lost his self-control. He was glad to see her back, but
remembered what he had suffered for her sake.

"My business doesn't occupy all my thoughts and you have made a blamed
poor joke! Here am I and your friends, trying to grapple with an awkward
situation and puzzling how we're to help you out, and you _laugh_. So
far as I can see, there's nothing humorous--"

"Don't be cross," Agatha interrupted. "I don't need helping out. If
business isn't very good, I can offer you a post."

George made an abrupt movement and looked hard at her. Farnam laughed
softly, and his wife leaned forward.

"You see, I've found the lode. It's richer than I thought," Agatha
resumed.

There was silence for a few moments, and then George said: "I want time
to get hold of this. You found the ore the old man talked about! It's
not another stupid joke?"

"Not at all. Father located the vein on his last journey and left a
paper with directions. Mr. Thirlwell found it in his tobacco-box. The
directions were not complete and we had some trouble--but we'll talk
about this later. The claim is recorded and Mr. Thirlwell has gone back
to begin the development. Mr. Scott, his employer, is coming to see
you."

"Well," said George dully, "I'll own I've got a knock. I reckoned if
there was a lode, it would never be found. Looks as if I didn't know as
much as I thought. But that's not all. Since I was old enough to guess
my mother's fears I did the old man wrong. He's made good. I doubted,
but you knew him best and you believed."

"A