"Yes," said Alton. "You asked me to, but now I know that I should not have done so."
"And that I should not have asked you?" said Alice Deringham. "You should have been on your journey already."
Alton laughed a little. "That was not what I meant—as of course you know," he said. "Still, I wanted to see you—and I had to come."
"Why?"
Alton was silent a little. "It may be the last time."
Alice Deringham shivered. "But there is no reason?"
"No—and yes," said Alton grimly. "I—and it is due to you and another to tell you this—have done no wrong, but there are reasons why I should not intrude myself into your company, and I am going back up there into the snow to-morrow."
"But," said the girl, feeling horribly guilty, "there are times when one's friends can do a good deal for one."
Alton seemed to laugh a trifle bitterly. "Yes," he said. "Still, I do not care to trouble mine in that direction. One must stand alone now and then, and things have not been going well with me lately. I had another blow to-day. I asked Miss Townshead to marry me—and she would not."
Alice Deringham said nothing for a space, and then her voice was different. There was no shade of expression in it. "And you are going back to look for the silver tomorrow? I hope you will be successful."