e quiet streets in that tense mood
which makes thought and breath alike torture. Now that it was over, he
said, with the inconsequence of love, that he had been a weak, cowardly
fool to fear his fate too much; and yet the next instant he knew he
would surely have lost it all, and that in time she _must_ come to need
him. If he _could_ wait! Well, he _would_ wait. He had not trained
himself heretofore in these long reaches of patience for no purpose.
That richly satisfying, inward sight, she could not take from him, that
exultant faith which was warmed and fed from a thousand secret rills.

He understood why she shunned him, why she had resolved to leave
Yerbury; and he was thankful now that he had not ruined his cause by
impatience. To think of not seeing her, of not hearing her voice, was
like madness! His face grew thin, there were tense lines about his mouth
and a set resolve in his eyes; yet to his fine temper came no moodiness
or irritability. The task he had set for himself must be accomplished.
He was as absolute in his self-denial as he would be in his happiness
when that came.

So she went away with the merest friendly farewell, and asked herself
angrily, an hour after, what power this man had over her, and why she
feared him? Surely there was not much of the lover in that calm face!

He threw himself into the business with renewed energy. As I said, the
September account was inspiriting. Prospects began to look brighter,
only it was admitted on all hands that the days of large profits and
quick fortunes were over for a long while, if not for all time. Industry
was coming to be respected, and you heard less talk about luck.

The outside world kept watch of them narrowly, jealously. If they turned
out thieves and swindlers, it would not be for the lack of advice.
However, they tramped on and on. Their store gained a little, and was
productive of much good. Keppler went to a different part of the town.
Boyd sold the ground, and a row of decent cottages were to be put up.
Kit Connelly had been reimbursed by the town for her damages, and with
Ben Hay's advice and counsel built an addition to her house, which he
and Rose took for housekeeping purposes. The lunch and coffee room was a
regular and profitable institution, and would be a business for one of
the boys as he grew up to manhood.

Sylvie and Fred went to the city for a winter holiday. Fred's book was
elegantly brought out, and won him much praise and a l