voice. "You are a fine
little chap. Trot along and let me sleep."

But no sleep came to Cameron, partly because of the hammer knocking in
his head, but chiefly because of the thoughts set going by Tim. Cameron
was not abnormally egotistical, but he was delightedly aware of the new
place he held in the community ever since the now famous Dominion Day
picnic, and, now that the harvest rush had somewhat slackened, social
engagements had begun to crowd upon him. Dances and frolics, coon hunts
and raisings were becoming the vogue throughout the community, and no
social function was complete without the presence of Cameron. But
this sudden popularity had its embarrassments, and among them, and
threatening to become annoying, was the hostility of Perkins, veiled as
yet, but none the less real. Moreover, behind Perkins stood a band of
young fellows of whom he was the recognised leader and over whom his
ability in the various arts and crafts of the farm, his physical prowess
in sports, his gay, cheery manner, and, it must be said, the reputation
he bore for a certain fierce brute courage in rough-and-tumble fighting,
gave him a sort of ascendency.

But Perkins' attitude towards him did not after all cause Cameron much
concern. There was another and more annoying cause of embarrassment, and
that was Mandy. Tim's words kept reiterating themselves in his brain,
"You've changed Mandy all right." Over this declaration of Tim's,
Cameron proceeded to argue with himself. He sat bolt upright that he
might face himself on the matter.

"Now, then," he said to himself, "let's have this thing out."

"Most willingly. This girl was on the way to engagement to this young
man Perkins. You come on the scene. Everything is changed."

"Well! What of it? It's a mighty good thing for her."

"But you are the cause of it."

"The occasion, rather."

"No, the cause. You have attracted her to you."

"I can't help that. Besides, it is a mere passing whim. She'll get over
all that?" And Cameron laughed scornfully in his own face.

"Do you know that? And how do you know it? Tim thinks differently."

"Oh, confound it all! I see that I shall have to get out of here."

"A wise decision truly, and the sooner the better. Do you propose to go
at once?"

"At once? Well, I should like to spend the winter here. I have made a
number of friends and life is beginning to be pleasant."

"Exactly! It suits your convenience, but how about Mandy?"

"Oh, rub