“Don’t butt in, Bob; I’m going to take them past.”

Charnock stood back obediently, though his alert pose hinted that he was ready to run forward if he were needed, and Helen studied his companion.

Sadie, dressed in black and white, with a black feather in her white hat, was braced back on the driving seat, with one hand on the reins while she used the whip.  There was a patch of bright color in her face, her eyes flashed, and the rigidity of her figure gave her an air of savage resolution.  She looked a handsome virago as she battled with the powerful horses, which plunged and kicked while the wagon rocked among the ruts.  Helen watched the struggle with somewhat mixed feelings.  This was the girl for whom Bob had given her up!

After an exciting minute or two Sadie forced the horses to pass the fluttering paper, and then pulled them up.

“Where’s Stephen?” she asked.

Helen said he was harrowing on the other side of the rise, and Sadie, getting down, signed to Charnock.

“Put the team in the stable, and then go and look for Festing.  Don’t come back too soon.”

Then she came towards the house and Helen felt half-annoyed and half-amused.  Stephen did not like to be disturbed when he was busy, and she knew what he thought of Bob.  Moreover, she wondered with some curiosity what Mrs. Charnock had to say to her.  Sadie sat down and waited until she recovered breath.

“You know who I am,” she remarked presently.  “Bob can drive all right, but he’s too easy with the team.  I don’t see why I should get down before I want because the horses are scared by a paper.”

“Perhaps it was better to make them go on, but they nearly upset you,” Helen agreed with a smile.

Sadie gave her a steady, criticizing glance, but her naive curiosity softened her rudeness.

“Well, I wanted to see you.  Looks as if Bob was a fool, in one way, but I guess I can see him through what he’s up against on the prairie better than you.”

Helen had been prejudiced against Mrs. Charnock, but her blunt sincerity was disarming.  Besides, she had expected something different; a hint of defiance, or suspicious antagonism.

“It’s very possible,” she said.  “Everything is strange here.  I feel rather lost sometimes and have much to learn.”

Sadie studied her closely, and after pondering for a few moments resumed:  “When I was driving over I didn’t know how I was going to take you; in fact, I’ve been bothering about it for some time.  I thought you might be dangerous.”

“You thought I might be dangerous!” Helen exclaimed with rising color.  “Surely you understand—­”

“Now you wait a bit and let me finish!  Well, I might have come now and then, found out what I could, and given you a hint or two, until we saw how things were going to be.  But that’s not my way, and I reckon it’s not yours.  Very well.  We have got to have a talk and put the thing over.  To begin with, I somehow feel I can trust you, and needn’t be disturbed.”