stoms, you'll raise
the neighborhood against you. In a sense, the trees and hedgerows
you'd cut down are your neighbors."

"I believe they're mine," Jim rejoined dryly. "However, I don't
suppose I'd bother anybody if I dyked and drained the marsh."

"Drain the marsh!" Mordaunt exclaimed. "That's frankly ridiculous!
It's a favorite haunt of the Lag geese and, in a dry autumn, I don't
know a better spot for snipe."

"There you are, you see!" Dick interposed, with a twinkle. "Perhaps
you don't understand that it's a serious matter to disturb a few
sportsmen."

"Looks as if I might disturb a number of people before I'm through,"
Jim replied. "Anyhow, I haven't made my calculations yet and don't
know if my money will go round."

"I wonder whether you understand that you are Bernard Dearham's nearest
relation and his approval is important?" Mordaunt remarked.

Jim pondered. He liked Dick and thought he trusted him, but he was not
certain if he trusted Mordaunt. On the whole, he thought the fellow
meant to give him good advice, but he was a type Jim did not know much
about. Although he was highly cultivated, Jim thought he had
conservative prejudices and an exaggerated pride. The pride was, of
course, not obtrusive, but it was there.

"The lawyers hinted something like that and Mrs. Halliday made it
plainer," he answered cautiously.

Mordaunt saw he would say nothing more and they were silent for a few
moments until Dick got up and said he would ask the gardener for some
plants the man had promised his mother. He wanted the plants, but he
wanted to think, for he was curious about the French romance. If Lance
had seen Franklin Dearham's name, he must have known Jim was his son,
and had meant to let him stay in Canada. Lance's manner when they
talked about Jim at the shack to some extent justified the supposition.
Moreover, while Lance had gone to Langrigg with the object of giving
Jim good advice there was something curious about his tone. He was
urbane, but one noted a hint of superiority, or perhaps patronage, that
the other might resent. All the same, it was not Dick's business and
he went to look for the gardener.

In the meantime, Mordaunt said to Jim: "You suggested that your
Canadian friends might make a long visit."

"I did; I'd like them to stay for good."

"Do you think it's prudent?" Mordaunt asked quietly.

Jim looked hard at him, with a touch of haughty surprise, and Mordaunt
resumed