Part 27 (1/2)

There were lights twinkling in and about the store when they reached it, and Katherine laughed to see how Phil crept past the door of the store,for the entrance to the house instead

But she did not call hi to shi+eld his retreat so far as she could possibly do so, for a ducking at that ti would not be pleasant; moreover, Mrs Burton would have his clothes to dry, which was another consideration of importance just then

Nick Jones was not in the store when she entered, and she noticed at once that the crowd of evening loungers was less than usual They were busily talking, too, and although they all bade her a civil good evening, went on with their talk where they had dropped it

”Mr Ferrars ca,” Miles whispered, when she went to help him with some boxes which were beyond his reach

”To see me?” Katherine asked in surprise

”Yes, he even went over the portage to see if you were co, but he could not wait, because the Mary sailed with the evening tide,” answered Miles

CHAPTER XXIV

Mr Selincourt is Confidential

The hot colour flamed in Katherine's cheeks; but no one saw it, for her back was to the group ofby the store door, and Miles had turned round to put on the counter the box which she had reached down for him

”Why did Mr Ferrars wish to seesuccessfully to ht have been that Jervis wanted to see her on some matter of business connected with the store; but in any case, and whatever his errand, it was pleasant to think that he had come up the river on purpose to see her

”I don't know, he didn't say; but he carried hi importance as if it were he, and not Mr Selincourt, who intended buying up as e as he could lay hands upon,” Miles answered, in a gruroup of men at the door had moved outside, where it was cooler, so brother and sister were for the moment alone

”I don't think Mr Ferrars ever put on els in defence of the absent one, although there was an increased heaviness in her heart as she reflected that perhaps, after all, he was betrothed to Mary Selincourt, and hence the inward elation resulting in the outward swagger

”Oh, he could, sometimes!” went on Miles, who appeared to be in rather a bad te to marry Miss Selincourt, and that is why he puts on such a fearful lot of cheek Downright horrid , I call it, for before she came he was always--”

”Alhat?” demanded Katherine sharply Her voice sounded a trifle muffled, because for some reason or other she had stuffed her head and shoulders in a bean bin, and wasbeans in a desperate hurry, which seemed a rather unnecessary task, as she had no orders to fill

But Miles, who had stuht better of it, and ventured on noinstead to one of the oods which had been ordered for the next day, and had to be sent down to Seal Cove

Katherine went to bed in a very ht At one moment she was sorry that she had not been at home when Mr Ferrars ca, she was heartily glad that she had been away, and shrank with very real reluctance froht of the next time she would have to see his uess howMary came over to the store very early indeed, and her face was in a pucker of dissatisfaction and discontent

”It is so truly horrid of things to fall out like this,” she began vehe into the store, where Katherine and Miles were busy weighing and packing goods which had to be delivered that day

”How have they fallen out?” asked Katherine with a smile She was used to Mary's excitable outbursts, which were usually about trifles too ser matter

”Theto a breakdown on one of the portages, and they had to ca their boat It is very vexing, co as it does just now, because we should have known our fate so o back to Montreal for the winter, and it is so tiresoet htening of heart which made her secretly ashamed of herself ”I found Montreal very pleasant for winter quarters, and I only wish it were possible for us to spare Miles to go for this next winter”

”I don't want to go!” interposed Miles hastily

”Neither do I, Miles,” said Mary; ”so we are both in the sao, whether I like it or not, because my father will not leave h to take care of myself!”

”Which you are not Remember the tidehole,” Katherine remarked, in a tone of mock solemnity