Kit smiled. “Perhaps your inquiry’s logical, but I don’t think you doubt. I wanted you, unconsciously, at the Winnipeg waiting-room, and when your train went I was forlorn. Afterwards, when I stayed with Bob for week-ends my visits were marked by a happiness for which I could not account. I thought Austin’s home charming; I didn’t know the real charm was you were at the house.”
“Ah,” said Alison, “I wonder whether Florence enlightened you! Now I think about it, she forced the locomotive engineer to wait——”
“Florence admitted she was jealous, but we won’t talk about Miss Grey. The light broke when I found you in the snow, and I was dazzled and carried away. For long I was strangely dull; but you know all and you’re generous. I need you in Canada. You risk it?”
Alison blushed and gave him her hand.
“I’ll marry you when you like, Kit, but I cannot yet leave Whinnyates.”
Kit took her in his arms, and by and by he said, “Well, if Mrs. Tyson wants you, I must be resigned. You pay your debts and I cannot dispute her claim.”
“When I join you all our debts will be gone; we will start without a load and look in front. In the meantime, aunt waits for the water.”
Kit laughed and seized the bucket; Alison’s thinking about the water was typical. They went to the house, and in the afternoon Kit started for the post-office. Mrs. Tyson stipulated for a wedding at the village church, and he must send Wheeler a cablegram.
Not long afterwards Ledward one afternoon arrived at Netherhall and joined Jasper in the library. For a time they talked about the forge and the letters Ledward brought; and then Jasper said:
“Your wedding is not for a few days, Harry, but you must go to Sheffield in the morning, and I thought I’d give you my present.”