I should lose my wife's. Besides,
since you bought the farm, you haven't a large sum left." He paused and
indicated the handsome rugs and furniture. "Then it costs a good deal to
live up to this kind of thing."

"We can change that; I can manage with less help and be more economical.
There is much that we can go without. I wouldn't mind at all, Stephen,
if it would help you to take things easily."

Festing colored. "No. I can't let you suffer for my rashness. It's my
business to give you all the comforts you need."

"Ah," said Helen, "I like you to think of me. But something's due to
pride. I wonder how much?"

"I don't know," said Festing, rather wearily. "I'm what I am and haven't
much time to improve myself. For that matter, I'll have less time now."

"Then what do you mean to do?"

"Make the most of what I have left. I'd hoped to give you a change this
winter--take you to Montreal and go skating and tobogganing, but that's
done with. I believe I have money enough to begin again in a small way
and work up. It may take me two or three years to get back to where I
was, but somehow I will get back."

"Then you are going on as before; concentrating all your mind upon the
farm, taking no rest, denying yourself every pleasure you might have
had?"

"I'm afraid that's the only way. It's a pretty grim outlook, but I think
I can stand the strain."

"Then I suppose I must try," said Helen, very quietly.

She was silent afterwards, and Festing lit his pipe. Something stood
between them, and she felt that it was not less dangerous because their
motives were good. Had they differed from selfishness, agreement might
have been easier, but an estrangement that sprang from principle
was hard to overcome. She wanted to help her husband and keep him to
herself; he meant to save her hardship and carry out a task that was
properly his. But perhaps their motives were not so fine as they looked.
Suppose there was shabby jealousy on her side, and false pride on his?
Well, Stephen was tired and could not see things in the proper light,
and it was some relief when he got up and went out. Helen picked up a
book, in the hope of banishing her uneasy thoughts.

Next morning Festing came in for breakfast, feeling gloomy and
preoccupied. He had not slept much and got up early to examine the
damaged grain. It looked worse than he had thought and, for the most
part, must be burned off the ground. There were patches that might,
with diffi