“Sit down,” said the first.  “The engineer wants to fill his tank, and they won’t pull out until we are ready.”  Then he turned to Festing.  “We have examined a piece of tract you helped build and I must compliment you on a first-class job.  As a rule, we are glad to get our contract work up to specification, but you have done better.”

“My partner is really responsible for that,” Festing replied.  “I got knocked out soon after we made a good start and had to leave him to carry on.”

The contractor smiled as he interposed:  “A good beginning counts for much, and I’m glad to state that Mr. Charnock has kept to your lines.  When you were forced to leave it seemed prudent to make some inquiries, but we found that your partner was doing high-grade work, and now we have inspected it, I must admit that Norton’s favorable reports were deserved.”  He paused and turned to Sadie.  “If your husband’s as good a farmer as an engineer, he’ll make progress.”

Sadie flushed with pride.  “Looks as if he’d made some already, but you didn’t run much risk when you trusted him.”

“My wife’s the farmer and my partner the engineer,” Charnock remarked.  “I know my limits, but try to keep going when somebody starts me well.”

“You have gone farther than our bargain demanded, which doesn’t often happen,” said the contractor, who turned to Festing.  “Mr. Charnock has my cheque for the main job, but there are some accounts to make up and you won’t find my cashier disputes the extras.  Perhaps that’s all I need say, except that you have satisfied me, and, I gather, satisfied your men.  In fact, you and Mr. Charnock leave us with general good feeling.”

Then they talked about something else until a man came in to say that the locomotive tank was filled, and the engineer and contractor went to the vestibule with their guests.  For a minute or two the group stood on the platform, exchanging farewell compliments, while the station agent waited in the snow.  Then the engineer said: 

“I wanted to meet your husband, Mrs. Festing, and if we have any more difficult work, hope you will let me have him again.”

“He came back the worse last time,” Helen answered smiling.  “I’m not sure I would have the courage to let him go.  Besides, he has other work at home.  A farm makes many demands on one.”

“I have no doubt it does,” agreed the engineer.  “One imagines that on the Festing farm all demands will be met.”

He signed to the agent, the others went down the steps, and the bell began to toll as the lighted cars rolled by.  The rattle of wheels got louder, and a plume of smoke trailed back and spread in a dingy cloud, but Helen and Festing stood, a little way from the others, watching the receding train.  They felt that something was finished; satisfactorily finished amidst well-earned praise, but done with for good.  Festing looked at Helen with a comprehending smile.