"When did you borrow that money?" she asked sharply.
There was no doubt that the man was embarrassed, and her heart softened towards him for his hesitation. It was to further her comfort he had laid that load upon himself, and he was clearly unwilling that she should recognise it. That counted for a good deal in his favour.
"Was it just before I came out?" she asked again.
Hawtrey made a little sign of expostulation. "You really mustn't worry me about these matters, Aggy. A good many of us are in the storekeepers' or mortgage-jobbers' hands, and there's no doubt that if I have another good year at the Range I shall clear off the debt."
Agatha turned her face away from him for a moment or two. The thing the man had done laid a heavy obligation on her, and she remembered that she had only found fault with him. Even then, however, stirred as she was, she was conscious that all the tenderness she had once felt for him had gone. The duty, however, remained, and with a little effort she turned to him again.
"Oh!" she said, "I'm so sorry."
Hawtrey smiled. "I really don't think I deserve a very great deal of pity. As I have said, I'll probably come out all right next year if I can only keep expenses down."
Then Agatha remembered the task she had in hand. It was a very inauspicious moment to set about it, but that could not be helped, and even for the man's own sake she felt that she must win him over.
"There is one way, Gregory, in which I don't think it ought to be done," she said. "You took over Wyllard's obligations when you took the farm, and I think you should keep the two Morans on."
Hawtrey started. "Ah!" he said, "Mrs. Hastings has been setting you on; I partly expected it."