er conversation was sometimes piquant.
Moreover, he remembered that Ethel and Sylvia were old acquaintances.

"I find her so," he said. "Though she has obviously had trouble, she's
very bright. It's a sign of courage."

"In Sylvia Marston's case, it's largely a reaction. She spent what she
regards as two harrowing years in Canada."

"After all, Canada doesn't seem to be a bad place," said Bland. "Two
of my friends, who left the Service, went out to take up land and they
evidently like it. They got lots of shooting, and they've started a
pack of hounds."

Ethel considered. She could have told him that Sylvia's husband had
gone out to make a living, and had not been in a position to indulge in
costly amusements, but this did not appear advisable.

"I don't think Marston got a great deal of sport," she said. "He had
too much to do."

"A big place to look after? I understand it's wise to buy up all the
land you can."

Ethel's idea of the man's views in respect to Sylvia was confirmed. He
was obviously giving her a lead and she followed it, though she did not
intend to enlighten him.

"Yes," she answered; "that's the opinion of my brother, who's farming
there. He says values are bound to go up as the new railroads are
built, and Marston had a good deal of land. Sylvia is prudently
keeping every acre and farming as much as possible."

She saw this was satisfactory to Bland, and she had no hesitation in
letting him conclude what he liked from it. It was not her part to
caution him, and it was possible that if no other suitor appeared,
Sylvia might fall back on George, which was a risk that must be avoided
at any cost. Ethel did not expect to gain anything for herself; she
knew that George had never had any love for her; but she was determined
that he should not fall into Sylvia's hands. He was too fine a man, in
many ways, to be thus sacrificed.

"But how can Mrs. Marston carry on the farm?" Bland inquired.

"I should have said her trustees are doing so," Ethel answered
carelessly. "One of them went out to look into things not long ago."

Then she moved away and left Bland with one difficulty that had
troubled him removed.

CHAPTER XIV

BLAND GETS ENTANGLED

When Mrs. Kettering heard of Sylvia's intention to attend the gymkana,
she gave her consent, and said that, as she had an invitation, she
would make up a party to go. This was not what Bland required. It
was, however, a four-seate