“Anyhow, you have done some harm.”

“I’m afraid that’s true.  I don’t know that I meant to do much harm, but it’s generally easier than doing good.  For example, I’ve given you some trouble; but at the moment I can’t think of a new offense.”

“You can quit joking and put down that newspaper.  It looks as if you didn’t know why Festing left?”

Charnock said he could not guess, and got up abruptly when Sadie told him.  He kicked the newspaper out of his way and crossed the floor with angry strides.  His face was red when he stopped in front of his wife.

“You don’t believe the lying tale!”

“No,” said Sadie, calmly.  “If I had believed it, I wouldn’t have talked to you like this.”

“Thank you!  Now we have cleared the ground, I’m certainly going to do something.  I’ll begin by driving over to Wilkinson’s to-morrow, and I’ll take a whip.”

“Festing ’tended to that matter before he left, and making another circus won’t help.  Besides, Wilkinson has got to quit.  You’ll see notices about his sale soon; I fixed that up.”

Charnock laughed.  “You’re a marvel, Sadie, but the brute deserves it.  Well, if I mustn’t thrash him, what’s your plan?”

“You’ll go to British Columbia and bring Festing back.”

“I will, by George!” said Charnock.  “We owe him and Helen much, and the job is obviously mine—­by joining Festing I give Wilkinson the lie.  You’re clever, and I expect you saw this.  Anyhow, I’ll start; but Festing’s an obstinate fellow.  Suppose he won’t come back?”

“He mayn’t at first.  If so, you’ll have to wait.”

Charnock turned away and walked about the floor while Sadie watched him, pleased but curious.  Bob was rather hard to move, but he was moved now.  He came back, and sitting down, looked at her thoughtfully.

“I imagine you are giving me a bigger job than you know.  If Festing has taken the railroad contract, he’ll probably stop until he had carried it out.  Now I don’t imagine I’d find it amusing to loaf about and watch him work; for one thing, it’s pretty cold in the ranges after the snow comes.”

“Well?” said Sadie.

Charnock leaned forward with an apologetic smile.  “I’d like to take a share in the contract and help him through; that is, of course, if he won’t come back at once.  But there’s a difficulty; I haven’t the cash.”

“You want me to give you some?”

“Yes.  I shouldn’t feel much surprised if you refused.  I’ve squandered your money before, but this time I mean business.  Can’t you see that I have, so to speak, got my chance at last?”

“I don’t quite see.  You have had many chances.”

“I have,” Charnock agreed; but there was a new note in his voice and a look in his eyes that Sadie had not often seen.  “I’ve been a fool, but perhaps it doesn’t follow that I’m incapable of change.  However, let’s be practical.  The crop is spoiled, we have no grain to haul in, and there’ll be nothing doing here while the snow is on the ground.  Well, if Festing can get some of his money back, why can’t I?  I’ve wasted yours long enough, and now, if I can’t bring him home, I’ll stop with him until we both make good.”