ood all through. Now I think I've told you everything, and I don't
ask if you believe me."

There was a flicker of warmer colour under Seaforth's bronze, and a
curious glint in his eyes.

"Yes," he said slowly; "I think she is too good even for you, and you
have done all that any one could have expected of you, without keeping
up the farce any longer. I am glad you did not ask if I believed
you--because I could scarcely have forgiven you that question. Do you
think I don't know--both of you--better?"

The last words were a trifle strained, and Alton stared at his comrade
in bewildered astonishment, for Seaforth had betrayed himself in his
passion. Then there was silence for a full minute until he said very
quietly--

"And I never guessed."

"No?" said Seaforth, still a trifle hoarsely. "And now I think you
know."

Alton nodded, and there was a very kindly smile in his eyes. "Yes; I'm
beginning to understand--a good deal," he said. "I'm very glad, for
there are not many girls like Miss Townshead in the Dominion. Charley,
you're a lucky man, but why have you been so long over it? It never
struck me that you were bashful."

Seaforth smiled mirthlessly. "If you will listen a few minutes you
will see how fortunate I am. You never asked me what brought me out
from the old country, Harry."

Alton gravely pressed his arm. "There are times when one must talk.
Go on, if it will do you good," he said.

It was not an uncommon story Seaforth told that night, and Alton, who
had heard it, slightly varied, several times already, could fill up the
gaps when his comrade ceased, and the drip from the branches splashing
upon the canvas replaced his disjointed utterance. Seaforth was very
young when it happened and the woman older than him.

"Now you see what kept me silent. It wasn't a nice thing to
tell--you," he said.

Alton glanced at him with grave sympathy, and then stared at the fire.
"And what became of her? I saw her picture once--in a twenty-five cent
album," he said. "A woman of that kind would know what she was about?"

Seaforth smiled wryly. "I was not the only fool," he said. "When I'd
flung away everything a richer man came along."

Alton was silent a space. "Three thousand pounds," he said, "is a good
deal, even in the old country."

"Yes," said Seaforth wearily; "though it goes a very little way as I
spent it, it is, and I've been paying it back, at first a few dollars
at a time, ever s