said.

Hastings made a sign of reluctant assent. "I don't quite know how I can
do it personally, in view of the figure wheat is standing at, and I
don't think much of any security that Gregory could offer me. Still,
there is, perhaps, a way in which it could be arranged, and it's one
that, considering everything, is more or less admissible. I think I'll
wait here for Agatha."

Agatha was in the wagon driven by Sproatly. When Sproatly had helped her
and Winifred to alight, Hastings, who walked to the house with them,
drew Agatha into an unoccupied room.

"I'm afraid that Gregory's in rather serious trouble. Sally seems very
anxious about him," he said. "It's rather a delicate subject, but I
understand that in a general way you are on good terms with both of
them?"

Agatha met his embarrassed gaze with a smile. She knew that what he
really wished to discover was whether she still felt any bitterness
against Gregory or blamed him for pledging himself to Sally.

"Yes," she answered, "Sally and I are good friends, and I am very sorry
to hear that Gregory is in any difficulty."

Hastings still seemed embarrassed, and she was becoming puzzled by his
manner.

"Once upon a time you would have done anything possible to make things
easier for him," he said. "I wonder if I might ask if to some extent you
have that feeling still?"

"Of course. If he is in serious trouble I should be glad to do anything
within my power to help him."

"Even if it cost, we will say, about six hundred English pounds?"

Agatha gazed at him in bewilderment.

"There are some twenty dollars in my possession which your wife handed
me not long ago," she remarked in a puzzled tone.

"Still, if you had the money, you would be glad to help him--and would
not regret it afterwards?"

"No," asserted Agatha decisively; "if I had the means, and the need was
urgent, I should be glad to do what I could." Then she laughed. "I can't
understand in the least how this is to the purpose."

"If you will wait for the next two or three months I may be able to
explain it to you," replied Hastings. "In the meanwhile, there are one
or two things I have to do."

When he left her, Agatha sat still, wondering what he could have meant,
but feeling that she would be willing to do what she could for Gregory.
Hastings' suggestion that it was possible that she still cherished any
sense of grievance against him because he was going to marry Sally,
brought a scornful smi