Jasper often mused upon the peculiar situation in which he was placed.  Everything seemed to depend upon him.  The engineers, having made their surveys, had departed, leaving him in charge.  The buying of the food supplies devolved upon him, though the bills were sent to the city office for payment.  He had not seen Robert Westcote since the day he had luncheon with him at the Sign of the Maple.  He had merely received specific information as to the various kinds of logs required, their length and size, as well as the places where they were to be hauled near the falls.

During these busy days Jasper had seen nothing of Lois.  He knew that she visited the Haven regularly, and Betty always had a great deal to tell him about her.  But somehow he had missed meeting her, and every time he left he felt disappointed, and made his way back to his lonely cabin which seemed to become more lonely as the days passed.  Sometimes he would stand on the hill and look down upon the Sinclair house, hoping that he might catch a glimpse of her who was so much in his mind.  He would scan the river, thinking he might see her out there.  At length a great longing came upon him to see her before he should go into the woods.  He knew that in a few weeks at the most she would be leaving for the city with her father, and then all hope of meeting her again for months would have to be abandoned.  Somehow he could not bear the thought of her going.  As long as she was near he could work better, and her presence in the place was like an inspiration.  He felt that she knew what he was doing, and took an interest in his welfare.  But in the city she would be far away, and taken up with so many interests she would have no time to give any thought to him.

All preparations had now been made for the lumbering operations and work would begin on Monday morning.  Saturday found Jasper with nothing to do.  He spent the forenoon in packing up his belongings to take with him into the woods.  They were very few, and one small grip would contain his scanty library which he could not bear to leave behind.  The next time he went to the city he intended to purchase a number of books upon which he had set his heart.  He would have the long winter evenings for reading in the little cabin he was to erect for his own special use.

About the middle of the afternoon he decided to pay a visit to the Haven.  He wished to see David and Betty before going away, and learn how they were making out.  But the hope that he might see Lois was the real reason why he decided to go.  Several times he had thought of visiting her at her own home.  But as he had never been there and had received no invitation, he did not feel inclined to go where perhaps he was not wanted, and where his presence might be looked upon as an intrusion.  He often upbraided himself for thinking about her at all.  What hope had he that she would ever deign to look upon him with favour?  What had he to offer her?  He was poor, and he had no guarantee that his employment with this mysterious company would be permanent.  In a few months he might again be seeking for work.