became actually interested in this he shook off something of his
moodiness and settled himself to develop the thing. He had good talent
for initiative and administration, and at last, in the time when his wife
was a feature of the London season, he found his scheme in working order,
and the necessity of going to England was forced upon him.

Actually he wished that the absolute necessity had presented itself
before. There was always the moral necessity, of course--but then!
Here now was a business need; and he must go. Yet he did not fix a day
or make definite arrangements. He could hardly have believed himself
such a coward. With liberal emphasis he called himself a sneak, and one
day at Fort Charles sat down to write to his solicitor in Montreal to say
that he would come on at once. Still he hesitated. As he sat there
thinking, Eye-of-the-Moon, his father-in-law, opened the door quietly and
entered. He had avoided the chief ever since he had come back to Fort
Charles, and practically had not spoken to him for a year. Armour
flushed slightly with annoyance. But presently, with a touch of his old
humour, he rose, held out his hand, and said ironically: "Well, father-
in-law, it's about time we had a big talk, isn't it? We're not very
intimate for such close relatives."

The old Indian did not fully understand the meaning or the tone of
Armour's speech, but he said "How!" and, reaching out his hand for the
pipe offered him, lighted it, and sat down, smoking in silence. Armour
waited; but, seeing that the other was not yet moved to talk, he turned
to his letter again. After a time, Eye-of-the-Moon said gravely, getting
to his feet: "Brother!"

Armour looked up, then rose also. The Indian bowed to him courteously,
then sat down again. Armour threw a leg over a corner of the table and