"Mr. Ide was tellin' me why you are goin' and where you are goin'," said MacLeod, with simple earnestness. Kate Arden was sitting with her head on his knee, and he was smoothing her hair gently. "I wanted the little girl to stay here while I talked this to you. I told you about my dream once, man-fashion. I've told her about it. I ain't excusin' or screenin' myself. I didn't know, that's all. I never tried to fool this little girl, Mr. Wade. They lied who said I did. I pitied her, Mr. Wade. But it's a hard place to start in lovin' a girl where I saw her first--and I'd seen some one else before I saw her. But I know now, sir. I've told her so all these days that she's been with me, so true and tender. I reckon I never was in love before. I wouldn't have acted that way with you, sir, if I really was in love and trusted. But there ain't no mistake this time, Mr. Wade!" He gulped, a sob in his throat and a smile in his eyes. "I'm her man for ever and ever. She knows it and she's glad. And I know she's all mine, and I'm the happiest man in the whole north country." He broke in upon Wade's eager burst of congratulation. "There's just one more word I wanted to say--sort of in the way of business, Mr. Wade." There was a peculiar expression upon his face. "Maybe when you're outside some one--_some one_ may drop a word or inquire about her business--you know--something about her." His look of strange significance became deeper, and Wade understood. "All is, you might say that she and Colin MacLeod are goin' to get married, and Colin MacLeod ain't askin' anybody for her--only herself and God. God ain't denyin' His Fathership to a girl as good as she is. Colin MacLeod ain't askin' anything else--ain't allowin' anything else. Say that to 'em. He's got his own two hands and eleven hundred dollars saved, and the big woods for her and for him. She and I wouldn't be happy outside the big woods, Mr. Wade. Say it all to 'em, sir, if any one drops a word to you--and they probably will, because you've had words with them. You'll know how to say it. But make it plain that it will be dangerous business for any man to reach out his hand to her or to me with anything in it--and tell 'em it's Colin MacLeod says that," he added, bitterly. "The only things you need, Colin," cried Wade, advancing towards him, "are good-will and friendship, and both are in the hand I give you." At the door he turned. "Will you wait until I come back, Colin?" he asked. "I would like to stand up with you when you are married--Nina Ide and I." "I'll wait, Mr. Wade," returned the other, tears of gratitude springing to his eyes. "And may luck go with you in this business."