“No,” she said; “I can’t break my promise to Sadie for the reasons you give.  You must do what you think best.”

Festing made a sign of acquiescence and went down the steps, while Helen bit her lip.  She wanted to call him back, but somehow could not.  It might be easier if he would look round, but he went on across the grass and his step was resolute, although his head was bent.  Then she got up, and going to her room, sat down trembling.  She had let her best chance go; Stephen’s resolve would stiffen, for when he had made a choice he was hard to move.  Besides, he had wounded her deeply.  He did not seem to understand that if he went away he would give people ground for thinking the slander true.  He ought to have seen this if he had thought about her.  Perhaps he had seen it and refused to let it influence him.  Well, if he wanted a reconciliation, he must make the first offer.

In the meantime, Festing went to look for the foreman, whom he could trust.  After some talk, the man agreed to manage the farm for the winter on the terms Festing indicated.  Then the latter asked if the other men would go with him to the Pacific Slope, and finding them willing, went back to his office and carefully studied his accounts.  He was glad to think that Helen had sufficient help and that the staid Scottish housekeeper would take care of her.  By and by he wrote a note and then drove off to the settlement.  He did not come back until next morning, but his plans were made and he only waited a telegram from Kerr.  Three or four days later the telegram arrived.

“All fixed,” it ran.  “Pass for transport mailed.  Come along soon as possible.”

CHAPTER XIX

SADIE SEES A WAY

Soon after Festing started for British Columbia Sadie drove over to the farm; because she had heard about the fight in the poolroom and suspected why he had gone.  At first she found it difficult to break down Helen’s reserve, but the latter could not resist her frank sympathy, and softening by degrees, allowed herself to be led into confidential talk.  Sadie waited until she thought she understood the matter, and then remarked: 

“So you stuck to your promise that you’d help me with Bob, although you saw what it would cost?  Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if you hated us.”

“It wasn’t altogether the promise,” Helen replied.  “We were both highly strung, and I thought Stephen hard and prejudiced; it seemed ridiculous that he should care what the loafers said.  But I don’t hate you.  The fault was really mine, and I want a friend.”

“Well,” said Sadie, “I feel I’ve got to help put this trouble right, if I can.”  She paused and asked with some hesitation:  “Will Steve be away long?”

“I don’t know,” Helen answered dejectedly.  “He hinted that he might not come until spring; I think he means to stop until he has earned enough to make him independent.  That’s partly my fault—­I said something rash.  If I hadn’t had more money than him, it wouldn’t have happened.”