“Well,” said Kerr, getting up, “I think you’re making the right choice, but hope you won’t forget me when you leave us.  You’ll have a friend in the company’s service as long as I’m on the road.”

He went out and Festing lighted his pipe.  Now he had come to a decision, there was much that needed thought; but, to begin with, he knew of a suitable piece of land.  Living in camp, he had saved the most part of his pay, and had inherited a small sum from an English relative.  In consequence, he could buy the land, build a comfortable wooden house, and have something over to carry him on until he sold his first crop.

He resolved to buy the land and set the carpenters to work, but could not leave the railroad for a month, when it would be rather late to make a start.  Then he had worked without a break for twelve years, for the most part at camps where no amusement was possible, and resolved to take a holiday.  He would go back to England, where he had a few friends, although his relatives were dead.  This was, of course, an extravagance; but after the self-denial he had practised there was some satisfaction in being rash.  Lighting another pipe, he abandoned himself to pleasant dreams of his first holiday.

CHAPTER V

A RASH PROMISE

A few days before he started for England, Festing went over to Charnock’s homestead, which was shortly to be sold.  The evenings were getting light, and although Festing had finished his day’s work before he left the bridge, the glow of sunset flooded Charnock’s living-room.  The strong red light searched out the signs of neglect and dilapidation, the broken boots and harness that needed mending, the dust sticking to the resin-stains on the cracked walls, and the gumbo soil on the dirty floor.  As Charnock glanced up a level ray touched his face and showed a certain sensual coarseness that one missed when the light was normal.  Festing, however, knew the look, and although he had not remarked it when he first met Charnock, thought it had always been there.

The change he had noted in his friend was only on the surface.  Charnock had not really deteriorated in Canada; the qualities that had brought him down had been overlaid by a spurious grace and charm, but it now looked as if moral slackness might develop into active vice.  On the whole, he thought Sadie would have trouble with Bob, but this was not his business.

“I’ve come to say good-bye,” he remarked.  “I won’t see you again until my return, and expect you’ll be married then.”

“Yes,” said Charnock, shortly.  “I suppose you have made some plans for your trip.  Where are you going to stop in England?”

Festing told him and he looked surprised.  “I didn’t know you had friends in that neighborhood.  Will you be with them some time?”

“A month, anyway.  Then I may come and go.”

Charnock pushed his chair back out of the light.  “Well, this makes it easier; there’s something I want to ask.  We are friends and I’ve let you give me good advice, though I haven’t always acted on it.  I don’t know if this gives me a claim.”