hree or four times as much if you held on for a few years."

"That's so. But what's going to happen to you while I wait?"

Charnock turned his head for a moment, and then looked up with a
contrite air.

"By George, Sadie, you are fine! But I can't allow this sacrifice."

"You won't be asked," Sadie rejoined with forced quietness. She was
moved by Charnock's exclamation, but durst not trust him or herself.
There was a risk of his persuading her to abandon the plan if he knew
how deeply she was stirred.

"Well," he said, "what do you propose to do?"

"Take a farm far enough from town to make it hard for you to drive in
and out. Donaldson's place would suit; he quits in the fall, you know,
and we hold his mortgage."

Charnock got up and walked about the floor. Then he stopped opposite his
wife.

"You mean well, Sadie, and you're very generous," he said with some
emotion. "Still you ought to see the plan won't work. I had a good farm
and made a horrible mess of things."

"You won't do that now. I'll be there," Sadie rejoined.

Charnock did not answer, but gave her a curious look, and she pondered
for a moment or two. He was obviously moved, but one could not tell
how far his emotions went, and she knew he did not want to listen. She
understood her husband and knew he sometimes deceived himself.

"No!" He resumed; "it's too big a sacrifice! You like people about you
and would see nobody but me and the hired man, while I admit I'm enough
to jar a woman's nerves. Then think of the work; the manual work. You
couldn't live as the bachelors live among dust and dirt, and it's a big
undertaking to keep a homestead clean when you can't get proper help.
Besides, there's the baking, cooking, and washing, while you have done
nothing but superintend. I'd hate to see you worn and tired, and you
know you're not so patient then. I get slack if things go wrong, and if
I slouched about, brooding, when I ought to be at work, it would make
you worse."

Sadie smiled. "That's very nice, Bob; but how much are you thinking
about me and how much about yourself?"

"To tell the truth, I don't know," Charnock replied with naive honesty.
"Anyhow, I am thinking about you."

"That is what I like, but there's no use in talking. Since I can make
this business go I can run a farm, and see no other way. My plan's made
and I'm going to put it over."

Charnock was silent for some moments and then turned to her with a look
in his face she had