“I’m not rash at all; I knew you long ago.  Your portrait hung in Charnock’s house and I used to study it on winter nights.  It told me what you were, and when I saw you under the copper beech I knew you very well.  Still now I have seen you, your picture had lost its charm.”

“Then you have it?” Helen asked.

Festing gave her a Russia leather case and her face flushed red.

“Did Bob give you this?”

“No,” said Festing quietly; “I stole it.”

“And the case?”

“The case was made in Montreal.  I went to Winnipeg, but could get nothing good enough.”

Helen turned her head.  It was a long way to Winnipeg from the prairie bridge, and she was moved that he had made the journey to find a proper covering for her picture.

“You must have valued the portrait,” she remarked shyly.

“I did, but it won’t satisfy me now.  As soon as I met you I fell in love with you.  Somehow I think you must have seen—­”

“Yes,” said Helen quietly, “I did see.”

Festing summoned his self-control.  “You must know what you decide.  I must live in Canada; my homestead may seem rude and bare after your mother’s beautiful house, and I tried to show you what a prairie farm is like.”

“I think I know,” Helen said, and gave him a quick tender look.  “Still, such things don’t really matter——­”

Then Festing stepped forward and took her in his arms.

An hour later he sat talking to Mrs. Dalton and Miss Graham in the drawing-room.

“I am glad you have agreed to wait and come back for Helen in the spring, but I ought to tell you something now, because it may make a difference in your plans,” Mrs. Dalton remarked “You admitted that some of the difficulties you and Helen would have to meet might be avoided if you had a little more capital.”

“It would certainly make a difference, but I have got no more.”

“Helen has some money,” Mrs. Dalton replied.

Festing knitted his brows.  “I didn’t suspect this!”

“That is obvious,” Miss Graham interposed.

Festing got up, moved a pace or two, and stopped.  “How much has she got?”

Mrs. Dalton told him and he frowned.  “Then she had better keep it.  I’d sooner you tied it up.”

“Isn’t that unreasonable?” Miss Graham asked.

“It’s a man’s business to support his wife.  I don’t want to live on Helen’s money.  Besides, I’ve made my plans.”

“I don’t think you quite understand,” Mrs. Dalton rejoined.  “After all, it is not a large sum and can be used for Helen’s benefit.  It may save her from some discomfort and give her advantages you could not provide.”

Festing pondered for a few moments, and then answered thoughtfully:  “Yes, I see this, and can’t refuse.  Well, perhaps the safest way would be to transfer the land I bought to Helen and record it in her name.  It’s bound to go up in value and couldn’t be taken from her unless she borrowed on a mortgage.  The arrangement would set free my capital and enable us to run the homestead on more comfortable lines.”  Then he paused and asked:  “Did Charnock know about the money?”