“I knew you would come some day, and come like this, without letting me know.”

“And so you kept everything ready?” Charnock rejoined.  “Well, I imagine that’s significant!  But you see, I didn’t know I could leave camp until the day before I started, and then it looked as if I’d get here as soon as the mail.”

Sadie gave him a quick glance.  “Then something happened that made you leave?”

“Something did happen, but nothing bad.  However, it’s a long story and I’ve not had much to eat.”

“Supper will be ready in five minutes, and I’ve got something that you like.”

“Ah!” said Charnock, “I suppose that means you kept the thing I like ready, too?”

They talked about matters of no importance until the meal was over, and then Sadie made him sit down by the stove and light his pipe.

“Now,” she said, “you can tell me all you did at the construction camp, and leave nothing out.”

Charnock was frank.  He knew Sadie understood him, perhaps better than he understood himself, and if his narrative gave her any pleasure, he thought she deserved it.  Moreover, when he wanted he talked rather well, making his meaning clear without saying too much.  When he finished she gave him a level glance.

“You’re surely a bigger man, Bob!  I see that, not only by what you have done but by what you think.”

“Well,” said Charnock, twinkling, “I’m glad you’re satisfied, but you’ll probably find out that there’s room for improvement yet.”

“I suppose you must joke,” Sadie rejoined with mild reproof.  “But what about Festing?  Doesn’t he meant to come back until the job’s finished?”

“So far as I could gather, he does not.  I tried tactfully to persuade him he was acting like a fool and imagine he sees a glimmer of the truth.  All the same, he’s obstinate.”

Sadie was silent for a minute, knitting her brows, and then looked up.

“You have only three days; I suppose I mustn’t keep you after that?”

“It mightn’t be prudent.  If I stay longer, I shall, no doubt, feel unequal to going back at all.  My industrious fit’s very recent and good resolutions fail.”

“Pshaw!” said Sadie.  “Try to be serious.  I must see Helen to-morrow and can’t take you.  She may have a message for her husband.”

“Couldn’t she write the message, if you went after I had gone?”

“No,” said Sadie firmly.  “She must send it now.”

Charnock looked hard at her and nodded.  “Well, perhaps it’s a good plan.  Meddling is sometimes dangerous, but one can trust you.”

Sadie, wrapped in furs, drove across the prairie next afternoon, and found Helen at home.  The latter looked rather forlorn and dispirited, and Sadie felt that she had undertaken a delicate task.

“Bob has come home for three days,” she said by and by.  “He can’t stop longer, but I thought you’d like to know how they are getting on with their contract.”