CHAPTER XXVI

A NEW UNDERTAKING

Soon after the rails were laid down the frost returned, and one cold morning Festing sat in his shack, studying a letter from Helen. Norton's cheque had helped him to overcome the worst of his difficulties, things were going better, and Charnock would superintend the workmen until he was ready to go out. Festing felt that he need not hurry, and wanted to think.

Helen had written to him before, without any hint of resentment, and he had told her what he was doing. She knew Bob was his partner, and no doubt understood what this implied. It was obvious that he had been wrong in disliking Bob and half suspecting him; besides Helen knew from the beginning that he had not suspected her, although he had insisted that she had been imprudent. This ground for difference had vanished, but he wondered what she thought, and could not gather much from her letter.

She wrote with apparent good-humor and stated that all was going satisfactorily at the farm, where, indeed, nothing of importance could be done until spring. For all that, there was some reserve. A personal explanation was needed before they could get back to their old relations of intimate confidence, and he was ready to own his mistakes. Unfortunately, the explanation must be put off, because there was one point on which he was still determined, although his resolve no longer altogether sprang from pride. He must, if possible, repair his damaged fortunes before he went home. Farming on a proper scale was expensive work, and Helen's capital was not large. In order to raise a big crop, one must speculate boldly, and he meant to do so with his own money.

1. Who was in a humorous mood?
2. How were things where she was?
3. Was there urgent news?
4. Would she start working in the summer?
5. When would she work?
6. Was all with them?
7. What did he have to fix?
8. Fix them for what?
9. What did he need to do that?
10. What returned after they laid the rails?
11. Had anyone helped finance his endeavors?
12. And who would he have superviser the workers?
13. How many partners did he have?
14. Who was his partner?
15. Had Helen called him?
1. Helen
2. satisfactorily
3. No
4. No
5. spring
6. unknown
7. his damaged fortunes
8. In order to raise a big crop
9. Helen's capital was not large
10. the frost
11. Norton
12. Charnock
13. One
14. Bob
15. No