"Very true," agreed the surveyor. "Then you don't mean to bother us for money?"
"It would, of course, be useful," Jake admitted in a thoughtful voice. "However, if the office doesn't see its way——"
"You would be satisfied to wait?"
Jim frowned. Jake's pretended indifference was prudent, but he had overdone the thing. While Jim wondered how he could put the matter right Carrie interposed.
"My brother is generally hopeful. In a way, that's good, but sometimes he's rash."
The surveyor's eyes twinkled. "Do you mean he's rash just now?"
"Yes," said Carrie, "I really think I do mean this."
"I didn't know if it was rashness or common bluff."
Jake grinned rather awkwardly and Jim colored, but Carrie fixed her eyes on the surveyor.
"It was all bluff from the beginning. We hadn't the money we needed when we took the contract, and since then we have never had proper tools and help enough."