"Take care of your brother, Miss Conlan. Natalie is a holy terror when she sets her cap at something. I must confess he's enough to turn any normal woman's head. Natalie has a weakness for big men. It'll certainly take a big one to keep her in order." Angela forced a smile into her features, and went away feeling more miserable than ever. What might not a woman, well versed in love-making, succeed in achieving with an ingenuous fellow like Jim! And she was pretty too...! It was three hours later when Jim and Natalie returned. Angela saw them coming up through the woods, Natalie chattering away in her broken English and Jim laughing amusedly. She wondered what had been the outcome of that journey. Had Jim proved an easy victim to Natalie's attractions? Judging by the latter's behavior it looked like it. Natalie seemed very happy and very sure of herself. It gave Angela food for considerable reflection. If Jim chose to fall in love with the woman, could she--Angela--have any objection? Their relationship all through had been that of master and chattel, and must remain so in the circumstances. She had let him see that she regarded herself merely as his purchased possession, by a contract wherein love had not entered--on her part. Why should he not make love to another woman if he chose? Why not, indeed? But it hurt nevertheless. In the evening, returning from a walk along the river, she met Natalie gathering spring flowers in the woods beyond the house. The latter welcomed her excitedly and took her arm familiarly. "Is it that you go to-morrow?" she asked. "If the food comes Jim is anxious to get to Dawson." Natalie shot her a swift glance. "To see you on zee boat?" Angela gasped and stood still. "I don't understand you. What boat?" Natalie raised her eyebrows. "Ees eet not so?" "No." "But he tell papa--yes. He say eet ees no place for you--ziss terr-ble climate. And you are so beautiful." Angela felt as though a cold hand had suddenly gripped her heart. So it had come to that in less than two days! "You are mistaken," she said. "But zat is strange. But, ma cherie, would not you be glad to get away?" Angela made no reply. She felt as though she was choking. They entered the house and found Jim talking with Devinne. Later she had an opportunity of speaking to him in private. "Are we leaving to-morrow?" she asked. "Sure." "For Dawson?" "Yes." "And what then?" She saw his lips tighten, and the delay in replying told her that Natalie was right. "I'm going to send you back to England," he said slowly. "No." "Yes." "I won't go." "You must. Angela, be reasonable. I'm broke, dead broke. I ought never to have brought you here, but I expected to be successful--and I ain't." "Is that why you want me to go back?" "Of course. You--you wanted your freedom, and I'm giving it to you." "I told you I could take nothing from you." "You've got to take this. Angela, you must forget all about that--other matter."