His friends seemed relieved when he left and began to talk to Agatha and George in apologetic tones.  One or two, however, looked thoughtful, and presently Gardner said:  “Mr. Thirlwell has removed the obstacle that bothered us most and I mean to keep my stock, although I expect it will be some time before I get a dividend.”

“Not as long as you think!” Thirlwell remarked.

“Then you have something to tell us?” said another.

“Not yet; I’ll make a full report at the shareholders’ meeting.  In the meantime, do you think Stormont will sell out?”

“It’s possible,” said Gardner.  “He wanted control.  We knew that, but backed him because it seemed the safest plan.  I guess he knows he’s beaten.”

“Then if he offers you his stock, you had better buy,” said Thirlwell, smiling.

Gardner looked hard at him, and nodded.  “I can take a hint.  What you say goes.”

* * * * *

After this the party broke up and Scott gently pushed George out when he saw that Agatha was waiting while Thirlwell picked up some papers he had got from the secretary.  When the others had gone, she gave him her hand and her face flushed.

“I wonder whether you know how much you have helped?”

Thirlwell kept her hand.  “I got some satisfaction from beating your antagonist.”

“But you wanted to help me?”

“I did,” said Thirlwell, with a steady look.  “I was anxious to do something that would make you happy.”

Agatha turned her head.  “Yet you once refused; the morning after we found the lode—­”

“Ah,” said Thirlwell, “I fought a pretty hard battle then!  But, you see, I was a poor engineer, and you—­”

She looked up with a smile and blushed.  “Do you think I didn’t know?  But you were foolish; ridiculously stupid!”

Thirlwell took her other hand.  “Perhaps I was, but I thought I was right.  Things, however, are different now—­”

He drew her to him, but she resisted.  “Wait!  If things had not been different, would your resolution have held out?”

“No,” said Thirlwell, “I’m afraid not; I’m not as strong as I imagined.”

“Oh!” she said, “perhaps that’s the nicest thing I have heard you say!  But you really didn’t often try to be very nice.”

“I was afraid I might say too much if I began.”

“No!” she protested, as his grasp got firmer.  “There’s something else!  How long have you really—­”

“How long have I wanted you?  Well, I think I began to feel the need a day or two after I met you at the summer hotel.”

Agatha blushed, but smiled with shining eyes.

“Then if the need hasn’t gone, you can take me.”

Thirlwell said nothing, but took her in his arms.