nce had tried to rob Jim.

"What do you think about him now?" he asked with some awkwardness.

"What I thought then; he is not the man to own Langrigg and ought to
have stayed in Canada. I'd have been resigned, had you got the estate,
but this fellow will make us a joke. He has the utilitarian ideals of
a Western lumberman."

"Bernard is the head of the house and I doubt if he'd agree. You
admitted he approved Jim."

"I did; I don't like his approving."

"Oh, well," said Dick. "Since you held up the car, I suppose you're
entitled to criticize Jim. If you hadn't made an effort, he would
probably have been killed. You can grumble about him as much as you
like; we'll remember what you did!"

Mordaunt smiled rather curiously and drained his glass.

"We are late for dinner and my clothes are wet," he remarked.

They went out; and both were quiet as they drove to Whitelees.

CHAPTER VII

THE FENCING WIRE

Next morning Carrie, getting up early because she had not slept much,
heard Jim's step in the passage outside her room. He went rather
unsteadily downstairs and a few minutes afterwards she found him
sitting on the terrace wall. He was pale and his face was cut; but he
had taken off the bandage.

"You oughtn't to be out," she said.

"Why not?" he asked.

"You were badly shaken. The doctor said we must keep you quiet."

"He probably didn't state how long, and I've been quiet all night. I
certainly got a knock; imagine my head went through the glass, but I
feel my proper self again, and don't see any reason for staying in bed."

Carrie gave it up. She knew Jim pretty well and asked where he was
going.

"I want to look at the car," he said. "I don't know why she left the
road. But how did you find me and bring me home?"

Carrie told him, and he looked thoughtful.

"I was in the ditch with the wheel on me? This accounts for my side's
feeling sore. How did you lift the car?"

"The others got into the ditch. A wheel began to slip and I thought
the weight would overpower them; but Lance Mordaunt made a tremendous
effort and held up the axle until we pulled you out."

Jim knitted his brows and looked across the lawn while he mechanically
felt for his pipe. The morning was clear with scattered clouds and the
grass was silvered by dew. The hills were sharp and belts of light and
shadow checkered the marsh. In the distance, the sea sparkled.

"If Jake or Dick had held her up, I could