It was to further her comfort that he had
laid that load upon himself, and he was clearly unwilling that she
should know it. That counted for much in her favor.

"Was it just before I came out?" she asked again.

Hawtrey made a little sign of expostulation. "You really mustn't worry
me about these matters, Aggy. A good many of us are in the storekeepers'
or mortgage-jobbers' hands, and there's no doubt that if I have another
good year at the Range I shall clear off the debt."

Agatha turned her face away from him for a moment or two. The thing that
Gregory had done laid a heavy obligation on her, and she remembered that
she had only found fault with him! Even then, stirred as she was, she
was conscious that all the tenderness that she had once felt for him had
vanished. The duty, however, remained, and with a little effort she
turned to him again.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "I'm so sorry."

Hawtrey smiled. "I really don't think I deserve a very great deal of
pity. As I have said, I'll probably come out all right next year if I
can only keep expenses down."

Then Agatha remembered the task that she had in hand. It was a very
inauspicious moment to set about it, but that could not be helped, and
even for Gregory's own sake she felt that she must win him over.

"There is one way, Gregory, in which I don't think it ought to be done,"
she said. "You assumed Mr. Wyllard's obligations when you took the farm,
and I think you should keep the two Morans."

Hawtrey started. "Ah!" he replied. "Mrs. Hastings has been setting you
on; I partly expected it."

"She told me," Agatha admitted. "Unless you will look at the thing as I
do, I could almost wish she hadn't. The thought of that man's wife shut
up in the woods all winter only to find that what she has had to bear
has all been thrown away troubles me. Now Wyllard promised to keep those
men on, didn't he?"

"There was no regular engagement so far as I can make out."

"Still, Moran seems to have understood that he was to be kept on."

"Yes," replied Hawtrey, "he evidently does. If the market had gone with
us I'd have fallen in with his views. As it hasn't, every man's wages
count."

Agatha was conscious of a little thrill of repugnance. Of late Gregory's
ideas had frequently jarred on her.

"Does that release you?"

Hawtrey did not answer this.

"I'll keep those men on if you want me to," he promised.

Agatha winced at this. She had discovered that she must not look