ght place before I've finished my search," Harding answered with
grave quietness. "But if that happens, I'll have a partner I can trust
my life to. What's more, Mrs. Harding feels I'm safe with him."

Mrs. Keith was moved; his respect for his wife's judgment and his faith
in his comrade appealed to her.

"Tell me something about your journey," she said.

While they talked, Millicent and Blake sat in the sunshine on the slope
of the hill. Beneath them a wide landscape stretched away toward the
Ottawa valley, the road to the lonely North, and the girl felt a
longing to see the trackless wilds. The distance drew her.

"Your way lies up yonder," she said. "I suppose you are thinking about
it. Are you looking forward to the trip?"

"Not so much as Harding is," Blake replied. "He's a bit of an
enthusiast; and I've been in the country before. It's a singularly
rough one, and I anticipate our meeting with more hardships than money."

"Which doesn't seem to daunt you."

"No; not to a great extent. Hardship is not a novelty to me, and I
don't think I'm avaricious. The fact is, I'm a good deal better at
spending than gathering."

"It's undoubtedly easier," the girl laughed. "But, while I like Mr.
Harding, I shouldn't consider him a type of the romantic adventurer."

"You're right in one sense and wrong in another. Harding's out for
money, and I believe he'll get it if it's to be had. He'll avoid
adventures so far as he can, but if there's trouble to be faced, it
won't stop him. Then, he has left a safe employment, broken up his
home, and set off on this long journey, for the sake of a woman who is
trying to hold out on a very few dollars in a couple of poor rooms
until his return. He's taking risks which, I believe may be serious,
in order that she may have a brighter and fuller life. Is there no
romance in that?"

What Blake said about his comrade's devotion to his wife appealed to
the girl, and she mused for a moment or two. She liked Blake and he
improved upon acquaintance. He had a whimsical humor and a dash of
reckless gallantry. He was supposed to be in disgrace, but she had
cause to know that he was compassionate and chivalrous.

"You haven't been with us long," she said, "but we shall be duller when
you have gone."

"That's nice to hear; but it's with mixed feelings that one leaves
friends behind. I've lost some good ones."

"I can imagine your making others easily; but haven't you retain