She looked at him in a way he did not understand, although her manner enforced a curious restraint.

“Now I wonder why?”

“You’re so beautiful!  I durstn’t hope you’d come down to my level.  I’d nothing to offer.”

“You have unselfishness, loyalty, and unflinching steadfastness.  Are these nothing?”

Foster felt embarrassed, but the sense of restraint was stronger.  Alice had somehow imposed it and he must wait until she took it away.  He thought she wanted him to finish.

“Then I knew my disadvantages.  In many ways, Canada is a hard country, and I’m poor.”

“Did you think that would count for very much?  We are not rich at the Garth.”

“I seemed to know that if by any chance you loved me, you would not flinch.  But there were other things; your upbringing and traditions.  I couldn’t hope your parents would agree.”

Then Alice got up with a quiet grace he thought stately and stood facing him.  There was a strange new softness in her eyes that had yet a hint of pride.

“I don’t think I am undutiful, but it is my right to choose my husband for myself.”  She paused and his heart beat fast as he waited until she resumed:  “The evening I came to the orchard I had chosen you.”

He held out his hands with a low cry of triumph and she came to him.

Next morning Foster saw Featherstone, who listened without surprise, and then remarked:  “It would perhaps have been better if you had come to me before the matter went so far; but I can’t lay much stress on this.  The times are changing.”

“I couldn’t, sir.  You see, until last night——­”

Featherstone nodded.  “Yes, of course!  But all that’s done with.  I can’t understand how the absurd notion came into my mind.”

“Things did look suspicious,” said Foster, smiling.

“Well,” resumed Featherstone, “except for that ridiculous interval, I liked you from the beginning, as did my wife.  Besides, it would be very hard for either of us to refuse you anything, and if Alice is satisfied—­But there’s another consideration; I understand from Lawrence that your business is not large, and although Miss Stephen wants him to extend it, this won’t augment your share.  Well, you understand why I must ask you to wait a year, until we see how you get on.”

Foster, having succeeded better than he expected, thanked him and agreed, and a few days later returned to the Crossing.  The Featherstones were coming to stay there for a time, and business demanded his attention.  He had long worked hard, but had now an object that spurred him to almost savage activity.  He resented the loss of time when Walters was brought to trial and he had to attend the court.  The man was sentenced for robbery, and Foster’s evidence, although objected to by the defense, sufficed to prove that Fred Hulton had no complicity in the theft.

A few weeks later, when Featherstone and his family were at the Crossing, Hulton sent for Foster.