"Has he been here?" A pulse began to beat sharply in Derek's throat. He wished he had thrown the scoundrel into the road.
"Yes, Durek. And, as a matter of fac', I gave him some cold meat and a cup of tea. Poor Jammery! He looks very bad. His heart is certainly broke."
Derek leaned forward, his face dark with anger, and grasped her knee. "By the Lord Harry, girl," he said, roughly, "if ever you let that fellow into the house again, I'll thrash you myself, and I'll give you no bracelet to help you bear the pain."
Fawnie took his hand from her knee and raised it to her forehead. "You have given me a ring already," she whispered. "And, as a matter of fac', if you beat me I will lov' you more than ever. Isn't that fonny?"
The following week Hobbs had as a guest the most prominent Holstein breeder in the Province. He invited Derek to spend an evening with them; and they had cigars in a little office he had fitted up for himself in a corner of the house where Derek had never been. It was hard to believe that this echoing half-empty house was the one where he had spent such happy hours with the Jerrolds.
Yet he enjoyed the evening, since it broke the monotony of things. The Holstein breeder talked well, and Hobbs was less assertive in his presence. Derek was invited to return the next afternoon to inspect the cattle with the great man. He spent an interesting afternoon, and set out for home feeling elated over some excellent hints he had got. The breeder was to come over the next day to look over his stock. He was interested in what he had heard of the young prize-winning bull.
Lake and land were sunk in damp oblivion. A chill air rose from the muddy road to mingle with the steady drench-
