ght to go
back to Canada as soon as I can."

"If you feel you must go, I'll have to consent."

"I've a duty to my partner. It's probable that he has already set off,
but I know where to find him and there'll be plenty to do. For one
thing, as transport is expensive, we'll have to relay our supplies over
very rough country and that means making the same stage several times,
while I don't suppose Harding will have been able to buy very efficient
boring plant."

"He may have done better than you imagined," Challoner remarked. "A
man as capable as he seems to be would somehow get hold of what was
needful."

Blake was surprised at this, because his uncle understood their
financial difficulties; but he said, "There's a fast boat next
Saturday. I think I'll go by her."

"Wait another week, to please me," Challoner urged him. "You have had
a dull time since I've been ill, and now I'd like you to get about. I
shall miss you badly, Dick."

Blake agreed. He felt that he ought to have sailed earlier, but the
temptation to remain was strong. He now met Millicent every day, and
it might be a very long time before he returned to England. He feared
that he was laying up trouble for himself, but he recklessly determined
to make the most of the present, and, in spite of his misgivings, the
next eight or nine days brought him many delightful hours. Now she
knew he was going, Millicent abandoned the reserve she had sometimes
shown. She was sympathetic, interested in his plans, and, he thought,
wonderfully charming. They were rapidly drawn closer together, and the
more he learned of her character, the stronger his admiration grew. At
times he imagined he noticed a tender shyness in her manner, and though
it delighted him he afterwards took himself to task. He was not acting
honourably; he had no right to win this girl's love, as he was trying
to do, but there was the excuse that she knew his history and it had
not made her cold to him.

In the meanwhile, Mrs. Keith, who had grown very fond of her companion
and entirely approved of her, looked on with observant eyes and made
opportunities for throwing the two together. One afternoon a day or
two before Blake's departure she called Millicent into her room and
asked her abruptly: "Have you ever thought about your future?"

"Not often since I have been with you," Millicent answered. "Before
that it used to trouble me."

"Then I'm afraid you're imprudent. You have no