r. I
suppose you're going to marry Thirlwell?"

Agatha blushed, but gave her a steady glance. "He has not asked me."

Mrs. Farnam pondered this and then made a sign of understanding. "I
think I see; the man is white, although perhaps he's foolishly proud. In
fact, I imagine he's worth one's taking some trouble about--"

She stopped, seeing Agatha's frown, and then resumed with a smile: "No;
I'm not going to meddle! It's better to wait. He's a man, after all; you
really have some charm, and human nature's strong."

CHAPTER XXX

A CHANGE OF LUCK

Scott met George at Montreal, and after spending some days there left
for New York. When he stated the time of his return, George sent for
Agatha and in the evening they went to meet him at the Grand Trunk
Station. As they walked down the hill and by the Cathedral, Agatha felt
excited. She had soon discovered that it was one thing to find a silver
vein and another to raise the capital one required to open up the mine
and refine the ore. The cost of these operations, as calculated by
Scott, seemed enormous, and people rich enough to help either wanted the
largest share of the profit or were frankly skeptical. George had got
promises of some support, but much depended on the result of Scott's
visit to his wealthy friends.

It was dark when they walked up and down outside the platform gates; the
train was late, and Agatha tried to control her nervous impatience. She
could trust George's judgment about money matters and she liked Scott,
but she had got a habit of looking to Thirlwell when difficulties must
be met, and he could not help her now. He was in the North, where winter
would soon begin, doing her work with drill and giant powder. It was
good work that demanded strength and courage and knowledge of Nature's
laws; she would have liked to have been there with him, instead of in
the city where one must grapple with commercial subtleties.

By and by a bell tolled, there was a harsh rattle as the cars rolled in,
and a few moments later Scott pushed through the crowd at the gate.
Agatha went to meet him under a big lamp and saw by his look that he had
been successful.

"I have fixed things and imagine you'll approve," he said, as she gave
him her hand.

"That's a relief," George remarked. "We'll talk about it when we've got
some supper."

Scott laughed. "I think we'll call it dinner to-night. I'm suffering
from a natural reaction after our Spartan habits at th