She stands apart, forbidden much others may enjoy, and Helen would have had to bear her friends' contemptuous pity for being bound to a man who had turned out a failure or worse." "I expect that's true," Festing agreed.

"However, there's another difficulty.

Suppose I persuade Miss Dalton that you made a plucky fight and only gave her up when you were beaten?
She may refuse to let you go, and insist on coming out to help." Charnock started, but with a rather obvious effort recovered his calm.
"You must see your suggestion's stupid.

Helen can't come out; I'm going to marry Sadie." "I forgot," said Festing.

"Well, since you urge me, I'll do what I can, although I don't like the job." He left the homestead shortly afterwards, but felt puzzled as he walked across the plain.