d--send them on. But Clarence, who
was with him, never made his fortitude and cheerfulness so clear as you
have done. You even mentioned the exact words he said now and then--how
did you hear of them?"

"From my companion, a young Canadian. He had the whole thing by heart;
got it from the Hudson Bay agent. George's guide told the agent."

"Did your companion also teach you how to tell the story?"

Nasmyth smiled. He saw that she was desirous of changing the subject and
he was glad of it.

"Anyway, he made me see it at the time; pointed out the full significance
of things--a broken branch, a scratch on a rock. A rather striking man in
several ways. But you shall see him; he's coming over to stay with me by
and by." He paused a moment. "I understand that Clarence has been having
some trouble."

"It hardly amounts to that. But things are not the same as they were"--in
spite of her courage she faltered--"when George held control. The tenants
don't take to Clarence; I think he was not well advised in increasing
rents here and there. Indeed, that was a little puzzling, because he was
once so liberal."

"In small matters; it's his own money now." Nasmyth could not repress
this show of bitterness.

"Whose money was it in his extravagant days?"

"That's a question I've thought over and failed to find an answer to.
I've no doubt most of what he gets is now being spent in town, though in
my opinion as much as possible ought to go back to the locality in which
it was produced. Why don't you impress that on him?"

Millicent, as he knew, could judiciously offer sound advice where it was
needed. She was young, but, having been left an orphan early, she had
long enjoyed her brother's close companionship and confidence, and the
man's wide knowledge and thoughtfulness had had its effect in molding her
character. Still, in this case, she did not respond.

"It would be better for his tenants and the neighborhood generally if
Clarence married; he can afford it now," Nasmyth went on.

Again the girl was silent, and he wondered whether he had thoughtlessly
made a serious blunder. It had been supposed among their friends that she
would marry Clarence some day, though, so far as it was known, there was
no definite understanding between them, and for a while the man's
attitude had strengthened the idea. Indeed, when he had succeeded to
George's possessions, every one had expected an announcement, which had
not been made. What Millic