"That's a very poor reason. You ought to do what you intend because you feel it's right."
"No doubt," said Andrew with a stern smile. "Still, you see, it needs a good deal of nerve."
Geraldine mused for a few moments. He had played up to her, as she thought of it, but in his half-humorous manner there had been a touch of gravity, and she knew what her commendation had been worth to him. She was glad that he valued it, but she could not have him guess this, and she shrank from showing too much earnestness.
"Well," she said, "the mail must be sent across to the Landing soon; I'd better tell my father."
She got up, and a few minutes afterward Frobisher appeared and took Andrew to his smoking-room. When they had talked for a while, Andrew took out a few specimens.
"So far as we were able," he said, "we picked out the best of the lode, but I believe much of the ore is of excellent quality. I brought you these specimens to look at, and the assayer's report on those we sent him after the first trip."
Frobisher examined them with care.
"A good business proposition; this stuff should pay for smelting. I suppose you realize that your knowledge of the locality is valuable?"
"That's what I am coming to. If the thing's in your line, any information I can give you is at your service."
"Ah!" said Frobisher. "Let us understand each other. Do you want to sell?"