"He went obediently," Hester answered with a smile. "I wanted to talk to you."
"I suspected something of the kind; but I can't see why you must stop me now."
"You are away at daybreak and come home late."
"Very well," said Harding resignedly. "But I've got to clean up this sloo by dark."
"Then you're not going to the Grange? You haven't been since Sunday."
"Beatrice understands that I'm busy."
"That's fortunate. It's not nice to feel neglected. Can't you take your mind off your farming for a little while, Craig?"
"It's my job. What's more, sticking to it seems the best way of making things easier for Beatrice. I'm an outsider at Allenwood and have got to justify my unorthodox notions by success. I haven't much polish and I'm not a good talker, but I can grow wheat—and luckily that comes into the scheme."
"It may, perhaps. When are you to be married, Craig?"
"I don't know. Beatrice puts it off. I had hoped it might be after harvest, but nothing's settled yet."