She
is waiting in Prince George. She bade me tell you that neither poverty,
misfortune nor disgrace could abate any of her love for you; that she
would die happy if she might once more press your hand against her
cheek."

Garth watched Mabyn narrowly while Natalie was speaking. He saw by the
man's rapt expression that her voice charmed his senses, while the
purport of what she said was wholly lost on his consciousness. When her
voice broke a little at the close, Mabyn's lips parted, and his breath
came quicker--but it was no tenderness for a devoted parent, only a
passion purely selfish, that caused his lack-lustre eyes to glitter
again.

"These letters," concluded Natalie, drawing them forth as she spoke,
"three of which I have brought from the post office, and the fourth
which she gave me herself, will let you know, better than I can tell
you, what she feels."

Mabyn took the letters; and thrusting them carelessly in his pocket--one
fell to the ground and lay there unheeded--snatched back at Natalie's
hand, and attempted to retain it. Reining her horse back, she wrenched
it free.

A little shame reached the seat of Mabyn's consciousness. He reddened.
"I'm not a leper," he muttered. "You came to me of your own free will,
didn't you?"

"Build nothing on that!" said Natalie instantly and clearly. "I allow no
claim on me!"

Mabyn quickly changed to obsequiousness. "I don't want to quarrel with
you, Natalie," he whined. "Especially not after what you've just done!"

He went to his bench again; and sat heavily. Again he struck his
forehead with his knuckles. "Gad! I can't yet realize it is you that is
here!"

Natalie looked at Garth as much as to say that she had accomplished what
she came for.

The look was not lost on Mabyn. He sprang up. "I'll do just what
you want!" he said hurriedly. "I'll start for Prince George at
once--to-day--this minute! God knows there's nothing to keep me here! You
have a spare horse, I suppose. I've nothing but that galled cayuse and
another as bad!" He uttered his cracked laugh in a tone that was intended
to be ingratiating. "That's the advantage of poverty! I've no preparations
to make; so lead on!"

Natalie paused irresolutely. This was a contingency she had not foreseen.
She shuddered at the possibilities it opened up. In her perplexity she
looked again at Garth.

"We will leave you a horse," said he curtly. "And your passage out from
the lake Settlement will be arranged fo