Hope might have braced him, but the thought of failure was depressing.

For all that, there were economies he must practise at the cost of extra labor, and bridging the creek would lessen the cost of transport and enable him to sell one of his teams.

He was late for supper, but wanted to finish part of the work before he went home.
By and by he saw Helen stop at the edge of the ravine.

Her face was hot, as if she had been walking fast, and she looked vexed.
"You have kept us waiting half an hour and don't seem ready yet," she said.
"I'm not ready," Festing replied, and stopped abruptly.

"Very sorry; I forgot all about it," he resumed.
Helen made a gesture of annoyance.