in a conciliatory voice: "Perhaps I'm getting on dangerous
ground, but I mean well and if you don't see----. To begin with, have
you thought about marrying Miss Winter?"

"I have not. I'm certain she has not thought about marrying me!"

"No doubt, you know," Mordaunt agreed with some dryness. "For all
that, my inquiry was perhaps justified. The girl is unformed, but
she's beautiful and I think she's clever."

"You can leave Miss Winter out. Now I suppose you have cleared the
ground and there's something else?"

Mordaunt made a deprecatory gesture. "I'll be frank, because I don't
want you to make mistakes. If you are going to stay at Langrigg, you
owe something to the family and yourself. A country gentleman has
social duties and much depends on what your neighbors think about you
at first. Very well. Your Canadian friends wear the stamp of the rank
to which they belong; it was hardly necessary for Mrs. Winter to state
that she had kept a small store. These are not the kind of people your
neighbors would like to receive. Then Bernard Dearham's family pride
is known: I imagine he largely persuaded your grandfather to alter his
will."

Jim got up and his face was quietly stern.

"Langrigg is mine; my grandfather gave it to me without my asking for
the gift," he said. "I owe my relations nothing and don't acknowledge
Bernard Dearham's rule. None of you bothered about my father; you were
glad to leave him and me alone. I had no claim on my Canadian friends
and they had nothing to gain; but they nursed me when I was ill and my
partner stood by me in the blizzards and cold of the North. Now you
ask me to turn them down, because they're not the people neighbors I
don't know would like to meet! Do you think I will agree?"

Mordaunt shrugged and forced a smile. "Oh, well, in a sense I suppose
your attitude is correct. There is obviously nothing more to be said."

Dick came in soon afterwards and Mordaunt went off with him, but he had
given Jim a jar and the latter walked about the terrace until Mrs.
Winter and the others returned from a drive. Carrie gave Jim a quick
glance as she advanced. She knew his moods and saw he was disturbed.
The drive had brought the color to her skin; she looked very fresh and
her step was light. Jim felt savage as he remembered Mordaunt's
patronizing remark. Carrie _was_ beautiful.

"Has something been bothering you, Jim?" she asked.

"It is not important," he replied