irlwell was silent for a few moments, and then said: "I'm sorry you
find it hard to let me help, but unless I had done so you couldn't have
gone far."

"You should have been frank and let me wait."

"For another year? The North is no place for a white woman after the
rivers freeze."

Agatha said nothing. She had not thought about this, and it would have
been very hard to wait until summer came again.

"Well," he resumed, "I cheated you, because I could see no other plan. I
think you have waited too long. If you had gone on thinking about
nothing but the lode, it would have done you harm."

"Did it harm my father?"

"Yes," said Thirlwell quietly, and Agatha dared ask nothing more.
Besides she knew that he would not tell her much.

"Now," he went on, "I have owned my fault; but you're rather taking it
for granted that my object was altogether unselfish. After all, the law
only gives you so much frontage on the vein, and there's nothing to
prevent my staking off a claim on the rest."

"That is so," said Agatha. "But the paper states that my father claimed
the edge of the cliff, where, for a time, the ore could be easily
worked. As your block would lie farther back, you would have to sink a
shaft and drive a tunnel. This would cost you much."

"The cost wouldn't matter if the ore was rich. I could get all the
capital I wanted."

Agatha gave him a quiet ironical smile. "Then you really came with me
because you meant to stake a claim? That's curious, Mr. Thirlwell,
because I think you never believed my father found the lode at all."

He colored and hesitated. "We'll let it go; there's something else. If
you turn back now, can you reach Toronto before the school reopens?"

"No," said Agatha, with a soft, excited laugh. "I did not mean to turn
back until I was forced. When I reached Toronto I should find somebody
else had got my post."

Thirlwell noted her courage, although he thought she was rash. "Wouldn't
it be awkward? But I suppose your brother--"

"I should not go to George. He is kind, but believes I have inherited my
father's illusion. He always hated to hear him talk about the lode, and
would think I was properly punished for my folly. But I needn't go on.
You must understand--"

"I don't understand. The only thing I see is that you're not logical.
It's obvious now that you must, if possible, find the ore; and yet you
object to letting me help. If you give up the search and return to
Toronto, it may