Now the comparison was coming to him, had indeed already come. Appreciation, sympathy, energy, assistance were manifest to him in every word and action of Helen Lonsdale. Her first suggestion of independent action had startled, then brought to him a sudden, overpowering realization of what she was, of what she might be to him in comparison with Amy. His first emotion was fear lest she might leave him, and, equipped with the knowledge which she had gained from her confidential relation with the company, start out on an independent course of her own. There was almost a feeling of resentment against Amy, as if she had defrauded him, and this was a thing which Elijah should have put aside; but he did not. Helen was watching him. There was decided humor in her eyes, in the motion of her lips. "What are you mulling over?" Elijah started as if waking from a dream. He spoke hastily, but none the less decidedly. "We must drive over together and see that land as soon as possible." CHAPTER SEVEN In spite of Elijah's earnest conviction that the land should be inspected and a course of action mapped out as soon as possible, it was several weeks before the trip could be arranged. To Elijah it seemed as if one insistent detail after another was crowding upon him in a most extraordinary manner. He grew fretful, and at the last decidedly irritable. "Don't worry, Elijah," Helen said, after an unusually impatient outburst. "The world wasn't made in a day." "Opportunities are, and are short-lived too." "Not when they travel via Mexicanos. You can always count on one day more with them. Mañana has some redeeming features after all." "Well," Elijah's lips straightened, "mañana is tomorrow, and tomorrow we start." Helen glanced at her desk with its litter of correspondence. "I guess we can manage it in some way." "I don't guess, I know. It's tomorrow; so be ready early. Don't come to the office; I will call for you." Elijah was as good as his word. At six o'clock he was waiting at Helen's door, and they were early on their way.