"You may have noticed that while economy ruled outside, the house is
remarkably well furnished. The money Marston spent in Winnipeg stores
should have gone into the land."

Edgar nodded; he did not agree with George's opinion of Sylvia.

"You don't seem to approve of the way Mrs. Marston managed things.
It's rather curious. I always thought her pretty capable in some
respects."

"That's very possible," said Flora with a hint of dryness.

"After all, it may not have been her fault," Edgar suggested. "Marston
was a generous fellow; he may have insisted on thinking first of her
comfort."

"Then she ought to have stopped him," said Flora firmly. "Do you think
a woman should let a man spoil his one chance of success in order to
surround her with luxury?"

"The answer's obvious."

A dazzling flash of lightning leaped from the mass of somber cloud
overhead, and they turned back toward the house, which George and Grant
reached soon afterward. Grant said that he must get home before the
storm broke, and Grierson brought out his spirited team. It had grown
nearly dark; a curious leaden haze obscured the prairie; and when the
man was getting into his light, spring-seated wagon, a jagged streak of
lightning suddenly reft the gloom and there was a deafening roll of
thunder. The horses started. Grant fell backward from the step,