of the world,
anyway."

"Anyway?"

Nora blushed. "I've practically spoken to no one but Frank for months;
it's natural that I should fall into his way of speaking."

"Well, when I got Frank's letter about the clearing-machine----"

"Frank has written to you?"

"Why, yes; didn't you know? He said there was a clearing-machine going
cheap at Prentice. I've always thought I could make money down our way
if I had one. They say you can clear from three to four acres a day with
one. Frank thought it was worth my while to come and have a look at it
and he said he guessed you'd be glad to see me."

"How funny of him not to say anything to me about it," said Nora,
frowning once more.

"I suppose he wanted to surprise you. And now for yourself; how do you
like being a married woman?"

"Oh, all right. But you haven't answered half my questions yet. Why has
Reggie Hornby come with you?"

"Do you realize I've not seen you since before you were married?"

"That's so; you haven't, have you?"

"I've been a bit anxious about you. That's why, when Frank wrote about
the clearing-machine, I didn't stop to think about it, but just came."

"It was awfully nice of you. But why has Reggie Hornby come?"

"Oh, he's going back to England."

"Is he?"

"Yes, he got them to send his passage money at last. His ship doesn't
sail till next week, and he said he might just as well stop over here
and say good-by to you."

"How has he been getting on?"

"How do you expect? He looks upon work as something that only damned
fools do. Where's Frank?"

"Oh, he's out with Sid Sharp. Sid's our neighbor. He has the farm you
passed on your way here."

"Getting on all right with him, Nora?"

"Why, of course," said Nora with just a suggestion of irritation in her
voice.

"What's that boy doing all this time?" she asked, going over to the
window and looking out. "He _is_ slow, isn't he?"

But Marsh was not a man whom it was easy to side-track.

"It's a great change for you, this, after the sort of life you've been
used to."

"I was rather hoping you'd have some letters for me," said Nora from the
window. "I haven't had a letter for a long time."

As a matter of fact she had no reason to expect any, not having answered
Miss Pringle's last and having practically no other correspondent. But
the speech was a happy one, in that it created the desired diversion.

"There now!" said her brother with an air of comical consternation.
"I've got