“Put the team in the stable, and then go and look for Festing. Don't come back too soon.”
Then she came towards the house and Helen felt half-annoyed and half-amused. Stephen did not like to be disturbed when he was busy, and she knew what he thought of Bob. Moreover, she wondered with some curiosity what Mrs. Charnock had to say to her. Sadie sat down and waited until she recovered breath.
“You know who I am,” she remarked presently. “Bob can drive all right, but he's too easy with the team. I don't see why I should get down before I want because the horses are scared by a paper.”
“Perhaps it was better to make them go on, but they nearly upset you,” Helen agreed with a smile.
Sadie gave her a steady, criticizing glance, but her naïve curiosity softened her rudeness.
“Well, I wanted to see you. Looks as if Bob was a fool, in one way, but I guess I can see him through what he's up against on the prairie better than you.”
Helen had been prejudiced against Mrs. Charnock, but her blunt sincerity was disarming. Besides, she had expected something different; a hint of defiance, or suspicious antagonism.
“It's very possible,” she said. “Everything is strange here. I feel rather lost sometimes and have much to learn.”
Sadie studied her closely, and after pondering for a few moments resumed: “When I was driving over I didn't know how I was going to take you; in fact, I've been bothering about it for some time. I thought you might be dangerous.”
“You thought I might be dangerous!” Helen exclaimed with rising color. “Surely you understand—”