"Everybody travels nowadays, and Shafton is never happy unless he is going somewhere. We started for Japan, and decided to see the Rockies and look at the British Columbian mines. That is, of course, Shafton did. He has money in some of them, and is interested in the colonies. I have to sit on platforms and listen while he abuses the Government for neglecting them. In fact, I don't know when I shall be able to get him out of the country now. Of course, I never expected to meet you here--and almost wonder if there is any reason beyond the one you mentioned that has kept you here so long." She glanced at him in a curious fashion and made the most of her eyes, which he had once considered remarkably expressive ones. "I can't quite think of any other, beyond the fact that I have a few dollars at stake," he said. "There is nothing else?" "No," said Brooke, a trifle too decisively. "What could there be?" His companion smiled. "Well," she said, "I fancied there might have been a Canadian. They are not all very good style, but some of them are almost pretty, and--when one has been a good while away----" The man flushed a trifle at the faint contempt in her tone. "I scarcely think there is one of them who would spare a thought for me. I should not be considered especially eligible even in this country." "And you have a good memory!" Brooke felt slightly disconcerted, for it was not the first delicate suggestion she had made. "I don't know that it is of any benefit to me. You see, I really haven't anything very pleasant to remember." Lucy Coulson sighed. "Harford," she said, dropping her voice a trifle, "you must try not to blame me. If one of us had been richer--I, at least, can't help remembering." Brooke looked at her steadily. Exactly where she wished to lead him he did not know, but she had flung away her power to lead him anywhere long ago. Perhaps she was influenced by vanity, for there was no genuine passion or tenderness in her, but Brooke was a well-favored man, and she had her caprices and drifted easily. "I really don't think you should," he said. "Your husband mightn't like it, and it is quite a long while ago, you know." A little pink flush crept into the woman's cheek and she rose leisurely. "Perhaps he will be wondering where I am, after all," she said. "You must come and make friends with him. We may be staying for some time yet at the C. P. R. Hotel, Vancouver." Brooke went with her and spent some little time talking to her husband, who made a favorable impression upon him, while when he took his leave of them the woman let her hand remain in his a moment longer than there was any apparent necessity for. "You must come down and see us--it really isn't very far, and we have so much to talk about," she said. Brooke said nothing, but he felt that he had had a warning as he swung off his big shapeless hat and turned away. XIV. BROOKE HAS VISITORS.