far away, and
requested Courthorne to meet and confer with him respecting certain
suggestions made by a Colonel Barrington. Winston decided to take the
risk.

"I'm sorry, but I have got to go into Annerly at once," he said.

"Then," said the officer, "I'll drive you. I've some stores to get
down there."

They started after breakfast, but it was dusk next day when they
reached the little town, and Winston walked quietly into a private room
of the wooden hotel, where a middle-aged man with a shrewd face sat
waiting him. The big nickeled lamp flickered in the draughts that
found their way in, and Winston was glad of it, though he was outwardly
very collected. The stubborn patience and self-control with which he
had faced the loss of his wheat crops and frozen stock stood him in
good stead now. He fancied the lawyer seemed a trifle astonished at
his appearance, and sat down wondering whether he had previously spoken
to Courthorne, until the question was answered for him.

"Although I have never had the pleasure of meeting you before, I have
acted as Colonel Barrington's legal adviser ever since he settled at
Silverdale, and am, therefore, well posted as to his affairs, which
are, of course, connected with those of your own family," said the
lawyer. "We can accordingly talk with greater freedom, and I hope
without the acerbity which in your recent communications somewhat
annoyed the Colonel."

"Well," said Winston, who had never heard of Colonel Barrington, "I am
ready to listen."

The lawyer drummed on the table. "It might be best to come to the
point at once," he said. "Colonel Barrington does not deem it
convenient that you should settle at Silverdale, and would be prepared
to offer you a reasonable sum to relinquish your claim."

"My claim?" said Winston, who remembered having heard of the Silverdale
Colony which lay several hundred miles away.

"Of course," said the lawyer. "The legacy lately left you by Roger
Courthorne. I have brought you a schedule of the wheat in store, and
amounts due to you on various sales made. You will also find the
acreage, stock, and implements detailed at a well-known appraiser's
valuation, which you could of course confirm, and Colonel Barrington
would hand you a check for half the total now. He, however, asks four
years to pay the balance in, which would carry bank interest in the
meanwhile."

Winston, who was glad of the excuse, spent at least ten minutes
studying