Mrs. Forel came up the stairway first with Alice Deringham, and when a blaze of light shone into the verandah from the open door Alton saw the girl draw back for a second as her eyes rested upon his companion.  She, however, smiled next moment, and Alton did not miss the slight flush of pleasure in the face of Commander Thorne.  He was also to meet with another astonishment, for Deringham and Seaforth came up the stairway next together, and Thorne dropped his cigar when he and the latter stood face to face.

“Charley!  Is it you?” he said.

Seaforth stood quite still a moment looking at him, and then, being possibly sensible that other eyes were upon him, shook hands.

“Yes,” he said.  “I heard the gunboat was at Esquimault, but did not expect to see you.”

Then there was a somewhat awkward silence, and Alton fancied that both men were relieved when Mrs. Forel’s voice broke in, “Jack, you will look after the men, but don’t keep them talking too long.  We picked up Mr. Seaforth, and there are one or two more of our friends coming.”

Alton followed his host, wondering at what he had seen.  It was evident that Miss Deringham had not noticed him, and he fancied she had been for a moment almost embarrassed by the encounter with Thorne.  That and what the man had told him had its meaning.  He had also noticed that when the latter greeted his comrade there had been a constraint upon both of them, but decided that what it betokened did not concern him.

Returning he found Mrs. Forel waiting for him, and having been born in a Western city her conversation was not marked by English reticence or the restraint which is at least as common in the Canadian bush.

“Dinner is ready, and you will have to talk to me and the railroad man during it,” she said.  “I had thought of making you over to Miss Deringham until Commander Thorne turned up.  Jack and he are great friends, but he didn’t seem able to get over here, until he heard Miss Deringham was staying with us.”

Alton laughed a little.  “Now what am I to answer to that?  Miss Deringham was very good to me.”

The lady fancied that his merriment was a trifle forced.  “You will just sit down, and eat your dinner like a sensible man,” she said.  “You are a Canadian and not expected to say nice things like those others from the old country.  They don’t always do it very well, and, though Jack is fond of them, they make me tired now and then.”

Alton took his place beside her, and speedily found himself at home.  Save for the naval officer and two English financiers the men present had a stake in the future of that country, and as usual neither they nor their womenkind considered it out of place to talk of their affairs.  They were also men of mark, though several of them who now held large issues in very capable hands had commenced life as wielders of the axe.  Most of them had heard of Alton of the Somasco Consolidated, and those who had not listened with attention when he spoke, for it was evident that they and the rancher had the same cause at heart.  Alice Deringham noticed this, and, though he was not conscious of it, little Alton did that night escaped her attention.