But he could not argue away the disturbing impulse. He could cover it, hide it from others, hide it from himself at times, but drive it out? Never!
Tom's report to Jane after his trip to town offered no encouragement. The filing had been legally accomplished and its significance was further impressed on the girl when he said:
"It's a mighty popular subject in town, ma'am. Everybody's interested."
"I suppose they all think it will mean trouble for me?"
"Yes, an' they're likely to be right."
She shook her head sharply.
"We don't want trouble, but if it does come we must meet it half way!" She leaned forward determinedly and Beck stirred in his chair. It was a gesture of delight for those were almost his very words to Hepburn when they cleared their relationships of pretense; but he said only:
"That's the easiest way to take trouble on."
Just then Hepburn came in with his report on his visit to the Hole.
"The old fellow seems reasonable, Miss Hunter," he said ponderously. "He don't look like he's a permanent neighbor even if he has bought some cows from Webb, which I found out today. He's poor as a church mouse to begin with—"