horizon, overhung the plain. The air was cold and
bracing; sound carried far, and the musical chime of cowbells came from
a distant bluff. There were not many cattle in the neighborhood, but the
Government was trying to encourage stock-raising and had begun to build
creameries.

Helen meditatively studied her husband. Festing had been plowing since
sunrise and looked tired. Something had gone wrong with his gasoline
tractor, and she knew he had spent two or three hours finding out
the fault. This had annoyed him, because time was valuable and he
was impatient of delay. Helen approved his industry and the stubborn
perseverance that led to his overcoming many obstacles, but sometimes
thought he took things too hard and exaggerated their importance. Now
as he leaned against the balustrade he had the physical grace of a
well-trained athlete, but she thought his look was fretful and his mind
too much occupied.

"I met Bob by the long bluff as I rode home," she said.

Festing looked up sharply. "Well, I suppose you were bound to meet him
before long. What was he doing at the bluff?"

"Waiting for somebody to help him with his wagon," Helen answered with a
laugh. "A wheel was coming off."

"That was like Bob. He has a rooted objection to helping himself when it
means an effort."

"For all that, you were a friend of his."

"I'm not his friend now. I've done with the fellow."

"It's rather awkward," Helen remarked thoughtfully. "He asked if he
might bring his wife over, and although I wasn't very gracious, I could
not refuse."

"Oh, well, it doesn't matter. As I won't have a minute until the sowing
is finished, I'll be out when he comes. If he stayed with his work just
now, it would be better for him."

Helen was silent for a moment. Stephen was made of much finer stuff than
Bob, but he had not the latter's graceful humor and his curtness jarred.

"There's no reason you should resume your friendship if you don't like,"
she said. "All the same, I think you ought to be polite to my guests."

"I can't pretend. The house is yours, but I don't want the fellow here."

"But why do you dislike him so much?"

"I don't think you need ask me that. It's dangerous ground, but you
see----"

"I have forgiven him," Helen answered, smiling. "Indeed, if I hadn't
done so long since, it would be easy to forgive him now. At first, I did
feel dreadfully humiliated, but I soon saw what he had saved me from.
And, of course, if he ha