When the meal was over he made an excuse for leaving them alone, but some time afterwards Alice came into the hall, where he sat quietly thinking.  She was calm, but he saw she had heard about the threatened danger.  He got up as she advanced, but she beckoned him to sit down.

“My father has told me about the letter, and I understand you know,” she said.

“I wish I knew what ought to be done!  It’s an awkward matter.  To tell the truth, it bothers me.”

Alice sat down, shielding her face from the fire with her hand.

“You mean you feel you ought to put it right?”

“Something of the kind,” said Foster, forcing a smile, “In a sense, of course, that’s presumptuous; but then, you see, I’m in your brother’s debt.”

“You like to pay your debts,” Alice remarked, fixing a level glance on him.

“When I can; but that’s not all.  I’m not in Lawrence’s debt alone,” Foster answered with some diffidence.  “I came over here, a stranger, ignorant of your ideas and customs, and you made me welcome.  Of course, if I had jarred you, you wouldn’t have let me know; but there are degrees of hospitality.”

Alice smiled.  “You needn’t labor your excuses for wanting to help us, and you are not a stranger now.  You must have understood this when my father showed you the letter.”

“Thank you,” Foster replied with feeling, and was silent for the next few moments.  Alice, who was proud and reserved, trusted him, and he must somehow justify her confidence.  He had a vague plan in his mind, but it needed working out.

“But we must be practical,” she resumed.  “Can you help?  You must see that there is nobody else who can.”

Foster made a sign of agreement, for it was plain that Featherstone could not tell his friends about his trouble.

“I begin to think I might; but although I haven’t quite made my plans yet, I see some danger.  Would you take a risk for your brother’s sake?”

The girl’s eyes sparkled, and he saw that she had Lawrence’s reckless courage.  He had heard his partner laugh when they faced starvation on the frozen trail.

“I would take any risk to save him or punish the blackmailer.”

“Very well.  I rather think your father will leave things to me, and I have a half-formed plan.  There ought to be some humor in the plot, if I can work it out.  Daly’s plainly convinced that your brother’s here, and I don’t see why he shouldn’t be encouraged to stick to his opinion.  In fact, the longer he looks for Lawrence, the more amusing the thing will get.  Of course, he may turn spiteful when he finds he has been tricked, but he, no doubt, means to do all the harm he can already.  However, you must give me until tomorrow.”

Alice got up and when he rose said quietly, but with something in her voice that thrilled him:  “I think you like my mother and she knows I meant to talk to you.  Lawrence is very dear to her and if he were dragged back into disgrace, now when we thought it was all forgotten and he has made a new start in Canada, I am not sure she could bear the shock.  There is nobody else who could help us and we trust to you.”