But my friend is a little stronger, and if you can lend me an extra horse I'll try to get him on the Summit to-night." "But you surely will not take him away from us so soon ?" said Mrs.Hale, with a languid look of alarm, in which Kate, however, detected a certain real feeling.

"Wait at least until my husband returns to-morrow." "He won't be here to-morrow," said the stranger hastily.

He stopped, and as quickly corrected himself.

"That is, his business is so very uncertain, my friend says." Only Kate noticed the slip; but she noticed also that her sister was apparently unconscious of it.

"You think," she said, "that Mr.Hale may be delayed ?" He turned upon her almost brusquely.