Gregory’s face never betrayed him, particularly when he kept his eyelids down, and, as he shook hands with Ora in the dining-room he told her he was glad to see her again as casually as if his hand had not tingled to crush hers. He talked with Mrs. Cameron, however, as long as possible, but when her attention was claimed by the man on her right, he was obliged to turn to Ora. By this time his blood was still. Eating is commonplace work, and talking the inevitable platitudes of a dinner’s earlier courses will steady the most riotous pulses. Ora smiled impersonally; her eyes might have beheld the husband of her friend for the first time. “I am so glad to be able to ask you something about my mine,” she said. “Ida tells me that you have reopened it.” “Yes, they are already through the fault and driving for the vein. There happened to be a good man here looking for a job when I got Mark’s telegram, a young engineer from the East, named Raymond. The miners are good capable men, too, and as Osborne and Douglas installed a compressor, the work should be pretty quick. I fancy you’ll recover the vein in a week or two.” “I wonder if I shall? Mark thinks you infallible, but it seems too good to be true.” “The vein is there, about a hundred feet down, but how rich it is I do not venture to predict.” “Well, never mind,” Ora smiled happily. “I shall have the fun of looking for it, and I want to be with the men when they find it.” “Oh--Ah--It really would be better for you to give up that idea of going out there to stay----” “I thought I would give to you the opportunity to say that at once! Do go on and relieve your mind.” “It is neither safe nor desirable,” he said sulkily. “I may have a row on my hands any minute. Your men and my men are a decent lot, but the Apex have employed a lot of scum so ignorant that there is no knowing what they may do in a crisis--in the hope of currying favour with their superiors. They would merely be made scapegoats or--canned--I beg pardon, fired--but they don’t know that, and they’re as hard a lot as Europe ever kicked on to our dump heap. Better stay here for the present.” “I’ve sent out all the furniture for the bungalow, and Custer and a Chinaman to put it in order. I suppose my engineer can camp in the other cottage until it is finished. That is quite close to mine, I understand.” “Oh, of course--but why not stay at my ranch house----” “That is too far from the scene of operations. Please don’t bother about me. I should hate to think I was on your mind--you have enough! I shall be well protected, and I’ve even bought an automatic. I suppose being a born Westerner I should call it a gun. But it’s such a little one. I shall carry it always----” “Yes, promise that.” “I’ve even had a little bag made, like those they wore years ago, to fasten to my belt, and I shall keep it in that.”