olonel Barrington, even if it
costs you a good deal?"

"Of course!" said Maud Barrington. "Can you ask me?"

Winston saw the sparkle in her eyes and the half-contemptuous pride in
the poise of the shapely head. Loyalty, it was evident, was not a
figure of speech with her, but he felt that he had seen enough and
turned his face aside.

"I knew it would be difficult when I asked," he said. "Still, I cannot
give you back that promise. We are going to see a great change this
year, and I have set my heart on making all I can for you."

"But why should you?" asked Maud Barrington, somewhat astonished that
she did not feel more angry.

"Well," said Winston gravely, "I may tell you by and by, and in the
meanwhile you can set it down to vanity. This may be my last venture
at Silverdale, and I want to make it a big success."

The girl glanced at him sharply, and it was because the news caused her
an unreasonable concern that there was a trace of irony in her voice.

"Your last venture! Have we been unkind to you, or does it imply that,
as you once insinuated, an exemplary life becomes monotonous?"

Winston laughed. "No. I should like to stay here--a very long while,"
he said, and the girl saw he spoke the truth, as she watched him glance
wistfully at the splendid teams, great plows, and rich black soil. "In
fact, strange as it may appear, it will be virtue, given the rein for
once, that drives me out when I go away."

"But where are you going to?"

Winston glanced vaguely across the prairie, and the girl was puzzled by
the look in his eyes. "Back to my own station," he said softly, as
though to himself, and then turned with a little shrug of his
shoulders. "In the meanwhile there is a good deal to do, and once more
I am sorry I cannot release you."

"Then, there is an end of it. You cannot expect me to beg you to, so
we will discuss the practical difficulty. I cannot under the
circumstances borrow my uncle's teams, and I am told I have not
sufficient men or horses to put a large crop in."

"Of course!" said Winston quietly. "Well, I have now the best teams
and machines on this part of the prairies, and I am bringing Ontario
men in--I will do the plowing--and, if it will make it easier for you,
you can pay me for the services."

There was a little flush on the girl's face. "It is all distasteful,
but as you will not give me back my word, I will keep it to the letter.
Still, it almost makes me relucta