-all right," said her father. He never liked company in his
drives; company interfered with his thinking out what he was going to
do at the office. "I'm mighty glad to know you, young man. I hope
we'll know each other better. I think you'll find out that for a devil
I'm not half bad--eh?"

Victor bowed, murmured something inarticulate, shook his host's hand,
and when the ceremony of parting was over drew a stealthy breath of
relief--which Jane observed. She excused herself to accompany her
father to his trap. As he was climbing in she said:

"Didn't you rather like him, father?"

Old Hastings gathered the reins in his lean, distorted hands. "So so,"
said he.

"He's got brains, hasn't he?"

"Yes; he's smart; mighty smart." The old man's face relaxed in a
shrewd grin. "Too damn smart. Giddap, Bet."

And he was gone. Jane stood looking after the ancient phaeton with an
expression half of amusement, half of discomfiture. "I might have
known," reflected she, "that popsy would see through it all."

When she reappeared in the front doorway Victor Dorn was at the edge of
the veranda, ready to depart. As soon as he saw her he said gravely:
"I must be off, Miss Hastings. Thank you for the very interesting
dinner." He extended his hand. "Good day."

She put her hands behind her back, and stood smiling gently at him.
"You mustn't go--not just yet. I'm about to show you the trees and the
grass, the bees, the chickens and the cows. Also, I've something
important to say to you."

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I must go."

She stiffened slightly; her smile changed from friendly to cold.
"Oh--pardon me," she said. "Good-by."

He bowed, and was on the walk, and running rapidly toward the entrance
gates.

"Mr. Dorn!" she called.

He turned.

She was afraid to risk asking him to come back for a moment. He might
refuse. Standing there, looking so resolute, so completely master of
himself, so devoid of all suggestion of need for any one or anything,
he seemed just the man to turn on his heel and depart. She descended
to the walk and went to him. She said:

"Why are you acting so peculiarly? Why did you come?"

"Because I understood that your father wished to propose some changes
in the way of better hours and better wages for the men," replied he.
"I find that the purpose was--not that."

"What was it?"

"I do not care to go into that."

He was about to go on--on out of her life forever,