Featherstone began to talk about something else, but Foster felt
embarrassed. It looked as if he owed his success in business to the
girl's generosity, and although he could not see why this should
disturb him, it did.

He went down to dinner rather early and found Alice in the hall. There
was nobody else about, and by the way she looked up as he advanced he
thought she had been waiting for him. Alice had beauty, but it was her
proud reserve he felt most. She did not give her friendship lightly,
but he believed it was worth winning.

"I wanted to thank you for explaining things so well," she said. "It's
the first time we have really learned much about my brother's life in
Canada."

Foster hesitated, "I felt that you wanted to know. But, in a way, it
must have sounded rather egotistical. In fact, the thing wasn't as
easy as you perhaps think."

Alice smiled. "You couldn't leave yourself out, although it was
obvious that you meant to give my brother the leading part."

"I honestly don't think I exaggerated."

"No," she agreed, "it sounded real, and there were touches, little
personal characteristics, you couldn't have imagined. You see, I am
younger than Lawrence and thought him something of a romantic hero
before he left home." Then she paused for a moment. "I got a very bad
shock when he was forced to go. You know why he went?"