"It's just this," he explained. "You deal with Grantly at the railroad settlement, and it's possible that he may not have formed a very accurate opinion of my character. In fact, I shouldn't wonder if odd things the boys have said have prejudiced him against me."
"It's quite likely," Farquhar admitted with a grin.
"Then I want you to assure him that I'm a perfectly responsible and reliable person."
Mrs. Farquhar laughed outright.
"Aren't you asking rather more than Harry could consistently do?"
"Well," Thorne replied thoughtfully, "it might serve the purpose if he told Grantly that I generally paid my bills. I don't ask him to guarantee my account or back my draft. It wouldn't be reasonable."
"It wouldn't," assented Mrs. Farquhar with uncompromising decision. "Are you going to make some new venture?"
"I have a hazy notion that I might take up a quarter-section and turn farmer."
His hostess flashed a significant glance at her husband, who smiled.
"But why?"