"I have an appointment to keep and must go in a few minutes," Blake
said, glancing at his watch. "Make my excuses to your wife; I shall
not see her again. It would be better: there's no reason why she
should be reminded of anything unpleasant now. She's a good woman,
Bertram, and I'm glad she didn't shrink from me. It would have been a
natural thing, but I believe she was sorry and was anxious to make all
the allowances she could."

Challoner was silent for a few moments, his face showing signs of
strain.

"I don't deserve her, Dick; the thought of it troubles me. She doesn't
know me for what I really am!"

"Rot!" Blake exclaimed. "It's your misfortune that you're a
sentimentalist with a habit of exaggerating things; but if you don't
indulge in your weakness too much, you'll go a long way. You showed
the true Challoner pluck when you smoked out that robbers' nest in the
hills, and the pacification of the frontier valley was a smart piece of
work. When I read about the business I never thought you would pull it
off with the force you had. It must have impressed the authorities,
and you'll get something better than your major's commission before
long. I understand that you're already looked upon as a coming man."

It was a generous speech, but it was justified, for Challoner had shown
administrative as well as military skill in the affairs his cousin
mentioned. However, he still looked troubled, and his color was higher
than usual.