"Perhaps I oughtn't to tell you," Howat replied gravely; "but Caroline
thinks a lot of you. She has admitted it to me--"

David Forsythe danced agilely about the more serious figure; he kicked
Howat gaily from behind, ironically patted his cheek. "Hell's buttons!"
he cried. "Why didn't you tell me that before? You cast iron ass! I'll
marry Caroline if I have to take her to a charcoal burner's hut. She
would go, too."

Howat Penny gripped the other's shoulder, faced him with grim
determination. "Do you fully realize that Myrtle Forge, Shadrach, will
be us? They will be ours and our wives' and childrens'. We must stand
together, David, whatever happens, whatever we may, personally, think.
The iron is big now, but it is going to be great. We mustn't fail, fall
apart. We'll need each other; there's going to be trouble, I think."

David put out his hand. "I didn't know you felt like that, Howat," he
replied, the effervescent youth vanished from him too. "It's splendid.
We'll hammer out some good blooms together. And for the other, nothing
shall ever make a breach between us."




VI


They went down to the supper table silently, absorbed in thought. David
was placed where Mr. Winscombe had been seated, on Mrs. Penny's right,
and next to Myrtle. Gilbert Penny maintained a flow of high spirits; he