“No,” said Sadie, thoughtfully, “I don't think you could. There are men who would be able, but not you.”
“I dare say you're right, but you're not flattering,” Charnock rejoined with a smile.
Sadie gave him a steady look. “Your trouble is you laugh when you ought to set your lips and get busy. One has got to hustle in Canada.”
“I have hustled. In fact, it's hustling that has brought me low. If I hadn't spent my money trying to break fresh land, I wouldn't have been so deep in debt.”
“And you'd have had more time to loaf about the settlement?”
“On the whole, I don't think that's kind. If I hadn't come to the settlement, I wouldn't have seen you, and that's about the only comfort I have left.”
A touch of color crept into Sadie's face, but her thoughtful look did not change.
“Well,” she said, “I'd surely have liked you to make good, and don't know that we mightn't have got the mortgage held over; but it wouldn't have been much use. You'd have started again and then got tired and not have stayed with it.” She spread out her hands impatiently. “That's the kind of man you are!”
“I'm afraid it's true,” Charnock admitted. “But I hope you like me all the same.”
Sadie was silent for a few moments, but her color was higher and Charnock mused. He supposed she meant she could have persuaded her father to come to his help, and it looked as if she well knew his failings. Still he felt rather amused than resentful.