In accordance with his threat, and in spite of protests, the doctor went to Dalton the next week. But almost by return train he was back again, stern-lipped and somber-eyed. "Why, Frank, so soon as this?" cried his sister. "Surely Burke Denby didn't--" "I didn't see him." "His father, then?" "Neither one. They're gone. South America. Bridge contract. Went themselves this time." "Oh, that explains it--why we haven't heard from them since you came back. I _had_ thought it strange, Frank, that not a word of congratulation or even inquiry had come from them." "Yes, I know. I--I'd thought it strange myself--a little. But that doesn't help this thing any. I can't very well go to South America to see Burke, just now--though I'd like to." "Of course not. Besides, don't forget that you very likely wouldn't accomplish anything if you did see him." So deep was the sudden gloom on the doctor's face at her words that the lady added quickly: "You did find out something in Dalton, Frank! I know you did by your face. You saw some one." "Oh, I saw--Brett." "Who's he?" "Denby's general manager and chief factotum." "Well, he ought to know--something." "He does--everything. But he won't tell--anything." "Oh!" "And it's right that he shouldn't, of course. It's his business to keep his mouth shut--and he knows his business as well as any man I can think of. Oh, he was perfectly civil, and apparently very gracious and open-hearted in what he said." "What _did_ he say?" "He said that they had gone to South America on a big bridge contract, and that they wouldn't be home for four or five months yet. He said that they were very well, and that, probably, when they came back from this trip, they would go to South Africa for another six months. I couldn't get anywhere near asking about Helen, and Burke's present state of mind concerning her. He could scent a question of that sort forty words away; and he invariably veered off at a tangent long before I got to it. It was like starting for New York and landing in Montreal! I had to give it up. So far as anything I could learn to the contrary, Mr. Burke Denby and his father are well, happy, and perfectly content to build bridges for heathens and Hottentots the rest of their natural existence. And there you are! How, pray, in the face of that, are we going to keep Helen from running off to London?" "I shouldn't try." "But--oh, hang it all, Edith! This can't go on." "Oh, yes, it can, my dear; and I'm inclined to think it's going on just right. Very plainly they aren't ready for each other--yet. Let her go to London and make the best of all these advantages for herself and Betty; and let him go on with his bridge-building for the Hottentots. 'Twill do them good--both of them, and will be all the better for them when they do come together." "Oh, then they _are_ to come together some time!" "Why, Frank, of course they are! You couldn't keep them apart," declared the lady, with smiling confidence.