rfectly seemly that she should
do so, for whether mirthful, commanding, or pitiful, Grace was in all
things natural. Neither is this prejudice in her favor on my part, for it
is well known on the Assiniboian prairie. Still, even after work had
commenced on the creamery and the finances of the Manor were adjusted
temporarily, Grace would give me no definite promise as to when she would
leave it for Fairmead. As yet her first duty was toward the helpless old
man and the charge he had left her, she said.

By one of the striking coincidences that it is hard to believe are
accidents, it happened that as we mounted outside the Manor a buggy came
around one corner of the house, and with a feeling akin to consternation
we turned to regard its occupant. A hired man held the reins, but beside
him, wrapped in a fur coat although the day was warm, sat Colonel
Carrington, a shivering, huddled object propped against the backboard. It
was the first time we had seen him, and the sight troubled us, for the few
weeks had made great changes in the ruler of Carrington.

"I'm afraid I'm breaking orders," the driver explained. "Miss Grace said
wait until you all had gone, but he would come, and I hadn't the heart to
refuse him. He's not understanding much these days, but we take him out
for an hour or two, when he's able for it, in the sun."

Colonel Carrington regarded us as if we were strangers, as with a pitiful
courtesy some raised their hats to him. He attempted with one hand to
strike a match and dropped it, and after Lyle ignited another and held it
to his cigar he nodded cordially. "I thank you, sir," he said with an
entire absence of recognition. "I am not quite as strong as I used to be.
Could you tell me how far it is to Lone Hollow? I seem to have forgotten
the way, and the snow is soft and heavy."

It was a relief to all of us when the buggy drove off, and the assembly
broke up with a sudden chill upon its enthusiasm.

One evening later I was walking home past Hudson's dwelling when I noticed
a curious cloud of dust hanging over the house, and strange sounds
proceeding from it. They suggested that somebody was vigorously brushing
it, which was certainly unusual. Now Hudson, though he held a
quarter-section of Government land, had really no legal claim to it,
because he had neither broken sufficient virgin sod nor put the necessary
acreage under cultivation. He freely admitted that he was prejudiced
against hard work, and, wh