you see he is always there, and acting as if
he owned her. He stuck to her for a long time, and I guess she got tired
holding out."

"Harry is a very decent fellow," said Ranald, rising up from his
unpacking; "I say, this boat's close. Let us go up on deck."

"Wait," said the colonel, "I want to talk over our plans, and we can
talk better here."

"No," said Ranald; "I want some fresh air. Let us go up." And without
further words, he hurried up the gangway. It was some time before
Colonel Thorp found him in the bow of the boat, and immediately began to
talk over their plans.

"You spoke of going to Toronto first thing," he said to Ranald.

"Yes," said Ranald; "but I think I ought to go to Ottawa at once, and
then I shall see my people in Glengarry for a few days. Then I will be
ready for the meeting at Bay City any time after the second week."

"But you have not put Toronto in there," said the colonel; "you are not
going to disappoint that little girl? She would take it pretty hard.
Mind you, she wants to see you."

"Oh, of course I shall run in for a day."

"Well," said the colonel, "I want to give you plenty of time. I will
arrange that meeting for a month from to-day."

"No, no," said Ranald, impatiently; "I must get back to the West. Two
weeks will do me."

"Well, we will make it three," said the colonel. He could not understand
Ranald's sudden eagerness to set out for the West again. He had spoken
with such enthusiastic delight of his visit to Toronto, and now he was
only going to run in for a day or so. And if Ranald himself were asked,
he would have found it difficult to explain his sudden lack of interest,
not only in Toronto, but in everything that lay in the East. He was
conscious of a deep, dull ache in his heart, and he could not quite
explain it.

After the colonel had gone down for the night, Ranald walked the deck
alone and resolutely faced himself. His first frank look within revealed
to him the fact that his pain had come upon him with the colonel's
information that Kate had given herself to Harry. It was right that he
should be disappointed. Harry, though a decent enough fellow, did not
begin to be worthy of her; and indeed no one that he knew was worthy of
her. But why should he feel so sorely about it? For years Harry had
been her devoted slave. He would give her the love of an honest man, and
would surround her with all the comforts and luxuries that wealth could
bring. She would be ver