“I should not think of doing so in face of your opinion, sir,” he said.  “There is an end to the thing, Graham!”

The broker’s face was a trifle grim.  “I gave you good advice out of friendship, Colonel, and there are men with dollars to spare who would value a hint from me,” he said.  “Still, as it doesn’t seem to strike you the right way, I’ve no use for arguing.  Keep your wheat—­and pay bank interest if you want any help to carry over.”

“Thanks,” said Dane quietly.  “They charge tolerably high, but I’ve seen what happens to the man who meddles with the mortgage-broker.”

Graham nodded.  “Well, as I’m starting out at six o’clock, it’s time I was asleep,” he said.  “Good-night to you, Colonel.”

Barrington shook hands with Graham, and then sighed a little when he went out.  “I believe the man is honest, and he is a guest of mine, or I should have dressed him down,” he said.  “I don’t like the way things are going, Dane, and the fact is we must find accommodation somewhere, because now I have to pay out so much on my ward’s account to that confounded Courthorne it is necessary to raise more dollars than the banks will give me.  Now, there was a broker fellow wrote me a very civil letter.”

Dane, who was a thoughtful man, ventured to lay his hand upon his leader’s arm.  “Keep yourself and Miss Barrington out of those fellows’ clutches at any cost,” he said.

Barrington shook off his hand, and looked at him sternly.  “Are you not a trifle young to adopt that tone?” he said.

Dane nodded.  “No doubt I am, but I’ve seen a little of mortgage jobbing.  You must try to overlook it.  I did not mean to offend.”

He went out, and, while Colonel Barrington sat down before a sheaf of accounts, sprang into a waiting sleigh.  “It’s no use, we’ve got to go through,” he said to the lad who shook the reins.  “Graham made a very sensible suggestion, but our respected leader came down on him, as he did on me.  You see, one simply can’t talk to the Colonel, and it’s unfortunate Miss Barrington didn’t marry that man in Montreal.”

“I don’t know,” said the lad.  “Of course, there are not many girls like Maud Barrington, but is it necessary she should go outside Silverdale?”

Dane laughed.  “None of us would be old enough for Miss Barrington when we were fifty.  The trouble is, that we spend half our time in play, and I’ve a notion it’s a man, and not a gentleman dilettante, she’s looking for.”

“Isn’t that a curious way of putting it?” asked his companion.

Dane nodded.  “It may be the right one.  Woman is as she was made, and I’ve had more than a suspicion lately that a little less refinement would not come amiss at Silverdale.  Anyway, I hope she’ll find him, for it’s a man with grit and energy, who could put a little desirable pressure on the Colonel occasionally, we’re all wanting.  Of course, I’m backing my leader, though it’s going to cost me a good deal, but it’s time he had somebody to help him.”