"I gather that you're afraid of wrecking your church.

It's an awkward situation, but I suppose you have made up your mind ?" "Yes; I must go on, if I go alone." The man, as the others recognized, had no intention of being dramatic, but his quiet announcement had its effect, and there was silence for a moment or two.

Then Edgar, who was impatient of any display of strong feeling, made an abrupt movement.
"After all," he said cheerfully, "you'll have Mrs.Nelson beside you, and I'm inclined to think she would enliven any solitude." Hardie smiled, and the lad continued: "Now we had, perhaps, better be practical and consider how to get over the difficulties." He grew less discursive when they fell in with his suggestion.

George possessed sound sense and some power of leading, and for a while they were busy elaborating a plan of campaign, in which his advice was largely deferred to.

Then there was an interruption, for Grierson, his hired man, came in.
"I was hauling hay from the big sloo when I saw the Hereford bull," he said.