Carroll had expected some question of this description, and had decided to answer it plainly, because it seemed probable that Jessie would get the information out of him in one way or another. He had also another motive, which he thought a commendable one. Jessie had obviously taken a certain interest in Vane, but it could not have gone very far as yet, and Vane did not reciprocate it. The latter was, however, impulsive, while Jessie was calculating and clever, and Carroll, who was slightly afraid of her, foresaw that complications might follow any increase of friendliness between her and his comrade. He thought it would be better if she left Vane alone. "Well," he said, "since you have asked, I'll try to tell you." He proceeded to recount what had passed at the Dene and Jessie listened, with an expressionless face. "So he gave her up--because he admired her?" she said at length. "That's my view of it," Carroll agreed. Jessie made no comment, but he felt that she was hardly hit, which was not what he had anticipated. He began to wonder if he had acted judiciously and he glanced about the room. It did not seem considerate to study her expression then. A few moments later she turned to him with a smile in which there was the faintest hint of strain. "I daresay you are right; but there are one or two people I haven't spoken to," she said and moved away from him. Some time after this Mrs. Nairn came upon Carroll standing for the moment alone. "It's no often one sees ye looking moody," she informed him. "Was Jessie no gracious?" "That," said Carroll, smiling, "is not the difficulty. I'm an unsusceptible and somewhat inconspicuous person, not worth powder and shot, so to speak, for which I'm sometimes thankful. I believe it saves me a good deal of trouble." "Then, is it something Vane has done that is on your mind? Doubtless, ye feel him a responsibility?" "He's all that," Carroll confessed. "Still, you see, I've constituted myself his guardian; I don't know why, because he'd probably be very vexed if he suspected it." "The gods give ye a good conceit o' yourself!" Mrs. Nairn exclaimed. "I need it," said Carroll humbly. "This afternoon I let him do a most injudicious thing, and now I've done another which I fear is worse. On the whole, I think I'd better take him away to the bush. He'd be safer there." "Ye will not, no just now," declared his hostess firmly. Carroll made a sign of resignation. "Oh, well," he said, "if you say so, I'm quite willing to stand out and let things alone. Too many cooks are apt to spoil the kail." Mrs. Nairn left him, but she afterwards once or twice glanced thoughtfully at Vane and Evelyn, who had once more drawn together. CHAPTER XXII EVELYN GOES FOR A SAIL. It was about the middle of the morning and Vane sat in Nairn's office. Specimens of ore lately received from the mine were scattered about a table, and Nairn had some papers in his hand.