e lucky, you know. But if you're not a fool,
you'll marry Carrie Winter."

He went out and Jim sat down again, looking straight in front, with
knitted brows. He did not know how long he mused, but he got up
abruptly when Carrie came in. She glanced at him curiously when he
indicated a chair, and for a few moments he stood opposite, irresolute
and frowning. Then he gave her Evelyn's note.

"After all, there is no reason you shouldn't read this," he said.

Carrie took the note and Jim thought her hand trembled when she
returned it.

"I'm sorry, Jim!"

"I don't want you to be sorry; I want you to understand. Evelyn
married somebody else this morning. Dick got a telegram."

"Ah," said Carrie, "I suppose it hurt?"

"Let's be frank! It couldn't hurt my vanity, because I had none left.
For all that, I got a knock. You see, I trusted Evelyn, and after the
night on the sands felt myself a shabby cur; but I meant to keep my
promise."

Carrie's face flushed delicately, although her voice was calm as she
said, "I did not trust Evelyn. The trouble was, I couldn't warn you."

"Yet you wanted to warn me? Oh, I know! You have stood between me and
trouble before, but this job was too big. It was not your pluck that
failed; you knew my obstinacy----"

He stopped and Carrie was silent. He moved a few paces and came back.

"Can't you speak?" he asked.

"What am I to say, Jim?"

"Well," he said hoarsely, "if you won't talk, you can listen. You have
borne with my moods and I've got to let myself go now or be quiet for
good; I'm something of a savage, but I've had to fight for all I wanted
and winning made me proud. It gave me a ridiculous confidence. Well,
I expect I reached the top of my folly when I got Evelyn. Then our
adventure on the sands knocked me flat; I knew myself a despicable
fool. I'd taken the best you had to give; let you nurse me when I was
sick, and cook for me in the woods. I knew your worth and chose
Evelyn! Then, when I'd promised to marry her, I took you in my arms
and kissed you!"

"Yet you meant to marry her; that was rather fine, Jim," said Carrie
quietly.

"I don't know if it was fine or not; it might have made bad worse.
Besides, you showed me you would be firm, although you knew I loved
you."

"Yes; I did know. You made good in Canada; I wanted you to make good
at Langrigg."

Jim thrilled with strong emotion. "Oh, my dear! My staunch and
generous dear! But I'm going t