it, because--because she loved me.'
'She thought it a good match. You were a gentleman.'
'Fiddledidee! She had the chance of much better men than me. And when----'
'Such men as Frank Taylor, no doubt.'
'And when I lost my harvest two years running, do you know what she did? She went back to the hotel in Winnipeg for the winter, so as to carry things on till the next harvest. And at the end of the winter, she gave me every cent she'd earned to pay the interest of my mortgage and the installments on the machinery.'
Nora had been more moved by this recital than she would have cared to confess. She turned away her head to hide that her eyes had filled with tears. After all, a woman who could show such devotion as that, and to her brother---- Yes, she would try again.
'Very well: I'll apologize. But leave me alone with her. I--I don't think I could do it even before you, Eddie.'
'Fine! That's a good girl. I'll go and tell her.'
Nora felt repaid in advance for any sacrifice to her pride as he beamed on her, all the look of worriment gone. She was once more busy at her ironing-board, bending low over her work to hide her confusion, when he returned with Gertie. A glance at her sister-in-law told her that there was to be no unbending in that quarter until she had made proper atonement. There was little conciliatory about that sullen face.
However, she made an effort to speak lightly until, once Eddie had taken his departure, she could make her apology.
'I've been getting on famously with the ironing.'
'Have you?'
'This is one of the few things I
'Any child can iron.'
'Well, I'll be going down to the shed,' said her brother uneasily.
'What for?' said Gertie quickly.
'I want to see about mending that door. It hasn't been closing right.'
'I thought Nora had something to say to me.'
'So she has: that's what I'm going to leaves you alone for.'
'I like that. She insults me before everybody and then, when she's going to apologize, it's got to be private. No, thank you.'
'What do you mean, Gertie?' asked Nora.
'You sent Ed in to tell me you was goin' to apologize for what you'd said, didn't you?'
'And I'm ready to: for peace and quietness.'
'Well, what you said was before the men, and it's before the men you must say you're sorry.'
'How can you ask me to do such a thing!' cried Nora indignantly.
'Don't be rough on her, Gertie,' pleaded her husband. 'No one likes apologizing.'
'People who don't like apologizing should keep a better lookout on their tongue.'
'It can't do you any good to make her eat humble pie before the men.'
'Perhaps it won't do
'Gertie, don't be cruel. I'm sorry if I lost my temper just now, and said anything that hurt you. But please don't make me humiliate myself before the others.'
'I've made up my mind,' said Gertie, folding her
