She moved away with the elder lady, and left the rest astonished to wonder what had become of Ferris, who was seen no more that evening, while presently Winston came in.

His face was a trifle weary, for he had toiled since the sun rose above the rim of the prairie and when the arduous day was over and those who worked for him were glad to rest their aching limbs, had driven two leagues to Macdonald’s.  Why he had done so, he was not willing to admit, but he glanced around the long room anxiously as he came in, and his eyes brightened as they rested on Maud Barrington.  They were, however, observant eyes, and he noticed that there was a trifle more color than usual in the girl’s pale-tinted face, and signs of suppressed curiosity about some of the rest.  When he had greeted his hostess he turned to one of the men.

“It seems to me you are either trying not to see something, Gordon, or to forget it as soon as you can,” he said.

Gordon laughed at little.  “You are not often mistaken, Courthorne.  That is precisely what we are doing.  I presume you haven’t heard what occurred here an hour ago?”

“No!” said Winston.  “I’m not very curious if it does not concern me.”

Gordon looked at him steadily.  “I fancy it does.  You see that young fool Ferris was suggesting that you had been mixed up in something not very creditable at the settlement lately.  As it happened, Maud Barrington overheard him and made him retract before the company.  She did it effectively, and if it had been any one else, the scene would have been almost theatrical.  Still, you know nothing seems out of place when it comes from the Colonel’s niece.  Nor if you had heard her would you have wanted a better advocate.”

For a moment the bronze deepened in Winston’s forehead, and there was a gleam in his eyes, but though it passed as rapidly as it came, Gordon had seen it and smiled when the farmer moved away.

“That’s a probability I never counted on,” he thought, “Still, I fancy if it came about, it would suit everybody but the Colonel.”

Then he turned as Mrs. Macdonald came up to him.  “What are you doing here alone when I see there is nobody talking to the girl from Winnipeg?”

The man laughed a little.  “I was wondering whether it is a good sign or otherwise when a young woman is, so far as she can decently be, uncivil to a man who desires her good-will.”

Mrs. Macdonald glanced at him sharply, and then shook her head.  “The question is too deep for you—­and it is not your affair.  Besides, haven’t you seen that indiscreet freedom of speech is not encouraged at Silverdale?”

In the meanwhile Winston, crossing the room, took a vacant place at Maud Barrington’s side.  She turned her head a moment and looked at him.

Winston nodded.  “Yes, I heard,” he said.  “Why did you do it?”

Maud Barrington made a little gesture of impatience.  “That is quite unnecessary.  You know I sent you.”