and nature
of the true nurse and she has told me how in the States, and England,
too, they train young girls in this work. She says we Canadians are in
great demand, and the calling is a wonderful one, Master Farwell."

This interested Anton Farwell a good deal and he and Priscilla discussed
it often after the woman who had just broached it had departed. It seemed
such a normal, natural opening for Priscilla if the time really came for
her to go away. The doubt that she would eventually go was slight in
Farwell's heart. He, keener than others, saw the closing-in of
conditions. He was not blind to Jerry-Jo's primitive attempts to attract
the girl's attention, but he was not deceived. When the moment came that
Priscilla recognized the half-breed's real thought, Farwell knew her
quick impulse would, as of old, be to fly away. She was like a wild bird,
he often pondered; she would give to great lengths, flutter close, and
love tenderly, but no restraining or harsh touch could do aught but set
her to flight.

At twenty-three Jerry-Jo surlily and passionately came to the conclusion
that he must in some way capture his prize. Other youths were wearing
gaudy ties and imperilling their Sunday bests; he was letting precious
time slip. Then, too, by Farwell's advice, old Jerry was growing rigid
along financial lines, and at last the _States_ took definite shape in
Jerry-Jo's mind, but he meant to have Priscilla before he heeded the
lure. With all his brazen conceit and daring he intuitively knew that
the girl had never thought of him as he thought of her, and he dared not
awaken her by legitimate means. Quite in keeping with his unrestrained
nature, he plotted, indirectly, to secure what otherwise might escape
him. Fully realizing Nathaniel's attitude toward his daughter, counting
his distorted conceptions and foolish pride, Jerry-Jo began to construct
an obstacle that would shut Priscilla from her father's protection and
cause her to accept what others had to offer--others, being always and
ever, himself!

Once Lonely Farm was closed to the girl, other houses in the serenely
moral In-Place would inevitably slam their doors. The cunning of the
half-breed was diabolic in its sureness. Anton Farwell could not assume
responsibility for Priscilla if all Kenmore turned its back on her, and
in that hour the girl would, of course, come running or crawling--never
dancing--to him, Jerry-Jo!

It was all for her own good, the evil fello