Part 42 (1/2)
”It was a nasty knock I expect to get over it, but it will be sos will be better e plow the land I' frole?”
”Yes,” said Jile But that is not all----”
He pulled hiht say too much, and while he hesitated Evelyn listened The door was open and the house was quiet, but she could not hear the click of the billiard balls It looked as if dick and Carrie had finished their ga; she lance and then looked away
”Jim,” she said, ”I aot red Evelyn'swas obvious, but he could hardly persuade hione and I et it back,” he said, with forced quietness ”In one way, this does not reedy, but I' profitable; I can't keep up Langrigg as ot to live and work as I lived and worked in Canada”
”People do live in the woods and on the plains Do you think your countrywomen have less pluck than these others? Are we dull and weak, afraid of hardshi+p and only willing to be ahed ”All this is ridiculous! I haven'tin a woht about you always since that day at Montreal When they told ht I ht find you in the Old Country”
”Then you didn't knoas here?”
”I did not,” said Jio
”When I saw you on the terrace, I got a thrill and a sense of triuh; I had got to clai to offer; I had to justify an to drain the marsh----”
Evelyn stopped him ”I wasn't worth it, Jim,” she said, with half-ashamed sincerity ”But I understand; you are too proud to take, you want to give Although you're foolish, I like your pride”
For a ot hard ”It's done with,”
he said, rather hoarsely ”I ood before I claimed you, and this loss has set ive you all you ought to have You're so fine and highly-teh jolts and jars are not for such as you
I've got to work----”
She got up and looked at hi
”And until you , Jirimly ”More than I durst reckon, but I must brace up and pay”
”But suppose I will not let you leave ?”
Evelyn asked ”Besides, it's ht If I didn't know you well, I should be angry
Langrigg is yours; but if you had nothing, do you think I'd keep our extravagance at Whitelees and let you go?” She turned her head and then looked up, stretching out her hands ”I can't let you go! I want to help”
Jim took her hands and next moment she was in his arently pushed him back
”You must tell nobody just yet,” she said
The others came in and Mordaunt looked at Evelyn rather hard, but she went to the piano and opening a music-book, beckoned dick