He saw his own hopes go down in miserable wreck; they had been utterly futile from the first.

He had known all along that Norton loved her, the young planter had made no secret of it.

He had been less frank.
"I swear you take it quietly enough," said Norton.
"Do I ?" "Can't you wish me joy ?" Carrington held out his hand.
"You are not going to take any risks now, you have too much to live for," he said haltingly.
"No, I'm to keep away from Belle Plain," said Norton happily.

"She insists on that; she says she won't even see me if I come there.
Everything is to be kept a secret; nothing's to be known until we are actually married; it's her wish--" "It's to be soon then ?" Carrington asked, still haltingly.
"Very soon." There was a brief silence.

Carrington, with face averted, looked from the window.
"I am going to stay here as long as you need me," he presently said.
"She--Miss Malroy asked me to, and then I am going back to the river where I belong." Norton turned on him quickly.
"You don't mean you've abandoned the notion of turning planter ?" he demanded in surprise.
"Well, yes.