Part 12 (2/2)

Harding bowed to her respectfully when he entered the room; then he turned to Lance with a smile.

”Glad to see you looking much better than I expected.”

Lance gave him his hand, though he winced as he held it out, and his mother noticed Harding's quick movement to save him a painful effort.

There was a gentleness that pleased her in the prairie man's face.

”I don't want to embarra.s.s you, but you'll understand how I feel about what you did for me,” said Lance. ”I won't forget it.”

”Pshaw!” returned Harding. ”We all get into sc.r.a.pes. I wouldn't be here now if other people hadn't dragged me clear of a mower-knife, and once out of the way of a locomotive when my team balked in the middle of the track.”

”I don't suppose any of the fellows gave you his clothes with the thermometer at minus forty. But I won't say any more on that point. Was my horse killed?”

”On the spot!”

Lance looked troubled.

”Well, it was my own fault,” he said slowly. ”I was trying a new headstall, and I wasn't very careful in linking up the bit.”

He began to talk about the latest types of harness, and listened with obvious interest to Harding's views on the subject, but after a while his voice grew feeble, and his mother interrupted.

”You'll come back and see me when I'm better, won't you?” he asked eagerly.

Harding made a vague sign of a.s.sent, and left the room with Mrs.

Mowbray. When they reached the hall, she stopped him.

”You did us a great service last night--I can find no adequate way of expressing my grat.i.tude,” she said.

Harding saw that she had not spoken out of mere conventional politeness.

”I think you make too much of it. Certainly, it was fortunate we happened to come along; the rest followed. But I can understand how you feel--I had a good mother.”

She was pleased by his reply, and she had watched him closely while he talked to Lance. The man was modest and yet quietly sure of himself. He had shown no awkwardness, and his rather formal deference to herself was flattering. She somehow felt that he would not have offered it solely on account of her station.

”I'm glad to see your son looking pretty bright,” Harding went on.

”You roused him. He was very listless and heavy until you came.”

”I'm afraid I talked too much; it's a way I sometimes have.” Harding smiled. Then he looked at her directly. ”He asked me to come back.”

Mrs. Mowbray knew he was shrewd enough to take a hint, and that she could without discourtesy prevent his coming; still, she did not wish to do so. She had heard her husband's views, to which she generally deferred; but she liked Harding, and he had saved her son's life.

Moreover, she had a suspicion that his influence would be good for the boy.

”I hope you will come whenever it pleases you,” she said with quiet sincerity.

”It will please me very much. I'll make use of the privilege as long as he finds that I amuse him.”

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