e without her? He was going, too, but how could he come back and
carry on his work without her helpful presence? Would she return, too?
The thought had often entered his mind. But how could he expect such a
thing? How could he ask her to leave the comforts of civilization and
dwell far off in the wilderness among a rude people? An involuntary
groan escaped his lips, which caused Constance to start and to look
suddenly up from her work.

"Oh, it is you, Mr. Steadman!" she remarked with a smile. "I didn't
know any one was near."

"Miss Radhurst," said Keith suddenly, "will you please walk with me
along this bank? I want to show you a very pretty scene."

"Yes, only let me finish my task. There, that is better, but oh, how
soon the flowers fade! Now I am ready."

Side by side they wended their way along the bank, then down into a
little valley close by the river, where a small stream purled through a
grove of fir and cottonwood trees. Birds were flitting here and there,
while a noisy squirrel, sitting on a high branch, chattered and scolded
incessantly at the intruders into its domain.

"So you will leave in the morning?" said Keith, as if it were quite
news to him.

"Yes. Everything is packed and ready."

"I am going, too."

"Yes, I know it, but you will come back again."

"Come back! Come back! Yes, I expect to come back, but to what?"
returned Keith almost bitterly.

"Why, Mr. Steadman, I thought it would be such joy for you to return to
your flock. And besides, have you not great plans in store for the
Quelchie Indians, and the new mining town, of which we have talked so
often. I think you have much in store."

"There is much," came the slow reply. "There is vast work yet to be
done. But a letter has filled me with serious thoughts, and I have
come to you for advice."

"To me! For advice!"

"Yes. Here is the letter, a fair-sized one, is it not? Well, the long
and the short of it is this: I have been asked to go to Toronto to take
charge of a church there. It is a great surprise."

"And you will accept?" queried Constance, with a far-away look in her
eyes.

"Shall I?"

"Why do you ask me? I am not able to judge. It is too important a
matter for me to decide."

"I ask you because--because I love you," Keith stammered. "Oh, Miss
Radhurst--Constance--bear with me," he pleaded, noticing her agitation.
"You have talked about my returning to this country. You have pictured
it o