“Your recent neighbour is not doing well down there?” she said.  “I am sorry for Miss Townshead.”

Alton nodded, and his face was sombre as well as pitiful, “It’s very rough on a girl of that kind, and she’s true grit right through,” he said.  “I’m thankful you don’t know what some women who have to earn their living doing what used to be men’s work in the cities have to put up with.”

“Still,” said Alice Deringham, “I can guess.  Miss Townshead was working at something uncongenial for a livelihood, and was not especially cordial to you?”

Alton looked at her gravely.  “No,” he said.  “She hadn’t even found that something yet, and she was very kind.  That’s what made me feel it worse.”

“Of course she would not have shown you what she thought,” said the girl a trifle dryly.  “And you were not responsible in any case.”

Alton glanced at her with some bewilderment.  “No?” he said.  “I’m sitting here with all that a man could wish for, while that girl, who was used to all the good things you have in the old country, walks round and round the city looking for something she can earn a few dollars at, when I might have fixed things differently if it hadn’t been for Tom.  It’s hard to feel there’s a meaner man than I am in the Dominion.”

Miss Deringham saw the veins rise on his forehead and the glint in his eyes, and shivered a little as she hoped the man would never discover it was not the rancher who had brought the shame upon him.

“Would it have been possible for you to do anything to help them if you had reached the ranch in time?” she said.

“Yes,” said Alton simply, “I think it would.  And it would have been better for everybody in the district.”

Though the girl did not altogether understand him, his very quietness was impressive, for she knew by this time that what he stated was usually rather more than less the fact.

“Well,” she said lightly, “it was not your fault, and you will forget it presently.”

Alton smiled wryly.  “I don’t know,” he said.  “There are some kinds of stains that don’t wash out, but you’re only wishing to be kind to me because you understand all that better than I do in the old country.”

The girl glanced aside and dropped her needle, while when she spoke her voice was a trifle strained.  “Do you know that you bushmen have made me ashamed once or twice?” she said.  “I am afraid there is a great disappointment waiting for you when you see us as we are.”

Alton rose as her father and Seaforth came in, with a curious little inclination of his head which came well from him.  “That simply couldn’t be,” he said.  “Well, it’s a pity I couldn’t tell you all you have done for me already—­and that’s one reason why I’m so sorry the other thing will not wash out.  Now Charley and I have a good deal to do, and you’ll excuse me.”

He went out with his comrade, and Deringham smiled at his daughter.  “He is learning rapidly.  Still, I fancy the man will feel it when—­and I am of course speaking impersonally—­he finds you out,” he said.