hrill of pride that she carried
herself finely. He thought she understood that Bernard had formally
acknowledged her. It was strange to know this was the girl who had
made his bread and mended his clothes in the woods, but after all, the
difference was only in her surroundings. Carrie had not changed.

"I don't mind confessing I plotted for this," Bernard resumed with a
twinkle, and took a leather box from his pocket. He opened the box and
a row of green jewels set in rough gold sparkled in the light.

"My wife last wore them; they were my grandmother's, and date farther
back," he said. "Now they are yours, and I would like you to put them
on."

Carrie stood quiet for a moment, with the jewels in her hand, while her
color came and went. For all that, she looked calm and rather proud.
She remembered that Bernard had not given the necklace to Evelyn.

"I have not worn such things, and I am the first of my kind to put on
these stones," she said.

Bernard bowed. "Brave and good women have worn them. I have studied
human nature and give them to you. This is not altogether because you
are going to marry Jim."

Carrie drew the stones round her neck and fastened the clasp. The
blood came to her skin and she looked strangely vivid, but in a moment
or two her glance became soft.

"You are kind and your trust means much," she said. "For one thing, it
means I must make good. Jim's inheritance must be managed well. We
will try to rule at Langrigg as his people ruled."

THE END

End of Project Gutenberg's Partners of the Out-Trail, by Harold Bindloss

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