“Wheeler, the construction boss, is willing. I expect you know Miss Forsyth has got a post at Fairmead?”
“I don’t know,” said Kit, and his glance got keen. “In fact, I don’t altogether see——”
“You may remember the lady who talked to Miss Forsyth at Winnipeg station? Well, sometimes I go home week-ends to Fairmead, and not long ago we met Miss Forsyth. She’s clerk at a creamery and was interested to know you were at the bridge.”
“Fairmead’s on the other line. Do you go to Winnipeg?”
“The conductor’s allowed to stop the cars at Willows, and a flag station on the other line is not far.”
Kit saw Austin thought him keen to go; in fact, he admitted Austin had perhaps some grounds to think him Alison’s lover. When Kit stated he did not know she had got a post, Austin was clearly puzzled.
“Oh, well,” he said, “if I can get leave I’d like to see Miss Forsyth; but I mustn’t ask for a holiday yet. Anyhow, your stopping for a few moments at the waiting-room was kind. Before you came along we felt rather forlorn.”
“Something of the sort was plain. The crowd was a foreign crowd and you were British. Then we saw your violin-case, and we doubted if you knew Canada, which for a beginner is a pretty hard country. Well, Carrie and I were going home, and the contrast was rather marked. I expect it accounted for our stopping.”
Kit wondered. Alison had accounted for the others’ stopping and he thought her supposition accurate. He began to talk about the bridge, and after a time Austin went to his office.
On the whole. Kit thought he would not go to Fairmead. For one thing, the journey was awkward and they were busily occupied at the forge. Moreover, he doubted if he ought to go. Alison’s charm was strong and he was flesh and blood.