steries of being. He pounded David on
the back, exclaimed, "Good!"

"I don't know whether to speak to Abner," the other proceeded
unfilially, "or the great Penny first. I don't care too much for either
job. It would be pleasanter to go to Caroline. I have an idea she
doesn't exactly dislike me."

"Perhaps I oughtn't to tell you," Howat replied gravely; "but Caroline
thinks a lot of you. She has admitted it to me--"

David Forsythe danced agilely about the more serious figure; he kicked
Howat gaily from behind, ironically patted his cheek. "Hell's buttons!"
he cried. "Why didn't you tell me that before? You cast iron ass! I'll
marry Caroline if I have to take her to a charcoal burner's hut. She
would go, too."

Howat Penny gripped the other's shoulder, faced him with grim
determination. "Do you fully realize that Myrtle Forge, Shadrach, will
be us? They will be ours and our wives' and childrens'. We must stand
together, David, whatever happens, whatever we may, personally, think.
The iron is big now, but it is going to be great. We mustn't fail, fall
apart. We'll need each other; there's going to be trouble, I think."

David put out his hand. "I didn't know you felt like that, Howat," he
replied, the effervescent youth vanished from him too. "It's splendid.
We'll hammer out some good blooms together. And for the other, nothing
shall ever make a breach between us."

VI

They went down to the supper table silently, absorbed in thought. David
was placed where Mr. Winscombe had been seated, on Mrs. Penny's right,
and next to Myrtle. Gilbert Penny maintained a flow of high spirits; he
rallied every one at the table with the exception of, Howat noted,
Ludowika. Her hair was simply arranged and undecorated, she wore
primrose with gauze like smoke, an apparently guileless bodice with
blurred, warm suggestions of her fragrant body. Howat was conscious of
every detail of her appearance; she was stamped, as she was that
evening, indelibly on his inner being. He turned toward her but little,
addressed to her only the most perfunctory remarks; he was absorbed in
the realization that the most fateful moment he had met was fast
approaching. His father's cheerful voice continued seemingly
interminably; now it was a London beauty to which he affected to believe
David had given his heart. The latter replied stoutly:

"I brought that back safely enough; it's here the danger lies.
Humiliating to cross the ocean and then be