"Yet you meant to marry her; that was rather fine, Jim," said Carrie quietly.
"I don't know if it was fine or not; it might have made bad worse. Besides, you showed me you would be firm, although you knew I loved you."
"Yes; I did know. You made good in Canada; I wanted you to make good at Langrigg."
Jim thrilled with strong emotion. "Oh, my dear! My staunch and generous dear! But I'm going to put your generosity to another test. I ought to have gone away and made things easier for you; I ought to have waited, to save your pride, but it would have been too hard. Well, I'm taking a horribly wrong line, but I want you, and you know me for what I am. If you think I'm too mean, I'll sell Langrigg and go away for good."
Carrie got up and looked at him with steady eyes. Then her face softened and she gave him a tender smile.
"You are rather foolish, Jim, but you mean well and I am satisfied."
He stood still for a moment, as if he doubted what he had heard, and she said quietly, "If my pride needed saving, it would be very small."
"My dear!" he said, and took her in his arms.
A few minutes afterwards, Jake and Mrs. Winter came in and Jim remarked: "You have owned you like the Old Country and I've urged you to stay."
"When the dykes are finished we must go," Mrs. Winter replied. "You are kind, but we know where we belong——"