rcumstances," Vesta replied. "One
escapes many disheartening things in a country that is still
comparatively primitive. The continual grind of keeping one's end up
in town gets terribly wearisome. I'm always glad to go to the woods,
and sorry when I have to leave. But I suppose it's largely in one's
point of view."

They chatted of sundry matters for a few minutes.

"By the way, is there any truth in the statement that this Free Gold
row has created trouble between you and your husband?" Vesta asked
abruptly. "I dare say it's quite an impertinent question, and you'd be
well within your rights to tell me it's none of my business. But I
should like to confound some of these petty tattlers. I haven't been
home forty-eight hours; yet I've heard tongues wagging. I hope there's
nothing in it. I warned Mr. Wagstaff against Paul."

"Warned him? Why?" Hazel neglected the question entirely. The
bluntness of it took her by surprise. Frank speech was not a
characteristic of Vesta Lorimer's set.

The girl shrugged her shoulders.

"He is my brother, but that doesn't veil my eyes," she said coolly.
"Paul is too crooked to lie straight in bed. I'm glad Mr. Wagstaff
brought the lot of them up with a round turn--which he seems to have
done. If he had used a club instead of his fists it would have been
only their deserts. I suppose the fuss quite upset you?"

"It did," Hazel admitted grudgingly. "It did more than upset me."

"I thought as much," Vesta said slowly. "It made you inflict an
undeserved hurt on a man who should have had better treatment at your
hands; not only because he loves you, but because he is one of the few
men who deserve the best that you or any woman can give."

Hazel straightened up angrily.

"Where do you get your astonishing information, pray?" she asked hotly.
"And where do you get your authority to say such things to me?"

Vesta tucked back a vagrant strand of her tawny hair. Her blue eyes
snapped, and a red spot glowed on each smooth, fair cheek.

"I don't get it; I'm taking it," she flung back. "I have eyes and
ears, and I have used them for months. Since you inquire, I happened
to be going over the Lake Division on the same train that carried your
husband back to the North. You can't knife a man without him bearing
the marks of it; and I learned in part why he was going back alone.
The rest I guessed, by putting two and two together. You're a silly,
selfish, shortsighted li