pay," and the Colonel grew suddenly grave. "Very few men
in the district are going to sow all their holding. Wheat is steadily
going down."

"Then if nobody sows there will be very little, and shouldn't that put
up the prices?"

Barrington's eyes twinkled. "Who has been teaching you commercial
economy? You are too pretty to understand such things, and the
argument is fallacious, because the wheat is consumed in Europe; and
even if we have not much to offer, they can get plenty from California,
Chile, India, and Australia."

"Oh, yes--and Russia," said the girl. "Still, you see, the big mills
in Winnipeg and Minneapolis depend upon the prairie. They couldn't
very well bring wheat in from Australia."

Barrington was still smiling with his eyes, but his lips were set. "A
little knowledge is dangerous, my dear, and if you could understand me
better, I could show you where you were wrong. As it is, I can only
tell you that I have decided to sell wheat forward and plow very
little."

"But that was a policy you condemned with your usual vigor. You really
know you did."

"My dear," said the Colonel, with a little impatient gesture, "one can
never argue with a lady. You see--circumstances alter cases
considerably."

He nodded with an air of wisdom as though that decided it, but the girl
persisted. "Uncle," she said, drawing closer to him with lithe
gracefulness, "I want you to let me have my own way just for once, and
if I am wrong, I will never do anything you do not approve of again.
After all, it is a very little thing, and you would like to please me."

"It is a trifle that is likely to cost you a good deal of money," said
the Colonel dryly.

"I think I could afford it, and you could not refuse me."

"As I am only your uncle, and no longer a trustee, I could not," said
Barrington. "Still, you would not act against my wishes?"

His eyes were gentle, unusually so, for he was not as a rule very
patient when any one questioned his will, but there was a reproach in
them that hurt the girl. Still, because she had promised, she
persisted.

"No," she said. "That is why it would be ever so much nicer if you
would just think as I did."

Barrington looked at her steadily. "If you insist, I can at least hope
for the best," he said, with a gravity that brought a faint color to
the listener's cheek.

It was next day when Winston took his leave, and Maud Barrington stood
beside him, as he put on his driv