he answered, with a smile of comprehension. "It was too late
when I was able to attend to things; they have dropped to such a price
that I'll have to keep them. I'm afraid it will be a blow to George,
and he's having trouble enough already with your farm; but, luckily,
some other shares I bought on his account show signs of a marked
improvement before long."

Sylvia inferred from this that he had not informed his cousin of the
state of his affairs, and did not wish to see him until the improvement
mentioned, or some other favorable development, should mitigate the
shock of discovering what use Herbert had made of his powers. It was
clear that it rested with her to decide whether George made the visit
or not, because if she went to Egypt he would remain in Canada. But
she was not quite ready to give her companion an answer.

"Did I tell you that I met Singleton a little while ago?" she said. "I
think he wished to speak, but I merely bowed. I was in a hurry, for
one thing."

"It's the first I've heard of it, but you did quite right. Since he
was here, one or two of the other directors who tried to give me some
trouble have got hold of him. They have sent him out to see what can
be done with the rubber property."

"Was that worth while?"

"I shouldn't think so. It strikes me they're wasting their money."

This was Herbert's firm belief, but his judgment while generally
accurate, had, in this instance, proved defective. He had failed
properly to estimate Singleton's capabilities. It was, however,
obvious to Sylvia that he had had no part in the undertaking, and had
abandoned his rubber schemes, which implied that George's loss would be
serious. There was no doubt that it would suit both Herbert and
herself better if George did not come back too soon.

"Well," she said, "that is not a matter of any consequence to me.
After all, I think I'll go south with you and Muriel."

Herbert had foreseen this decision.

"It's the most suitable arrangement," he responded. "When I write,
I'll mention it to George."

Sylvia went out a little later with a sense of guilt; she felt that in
removing the strongest inducement for George's visit she had betrayed
him. She was sorry for George, but she could not allow any
consideration for him to interfere with her ambitions. Then she
resolutely drove these thoughts away. The matter could be looked at in
a more pleasant light, and there were several good reasons for the