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“Iamtakingyouhome。Seeyouto-night，sir，“Jackadded，noddingtohisfather。
Thetwoyoungmenpassedouttogethertothecar。
“Yes，Tony，“saidJack，“Ihavetakenoveryourjob。“
“Myjob？Whatdoyoumeanbythat？“askedTony，bitterandsulleninfaceandtone。
“Iamthenewmanageroftheplaningmill。Dadhadyouslatedforthatposition，butyouhadn’tmanager-timberinyou。“
Tony’sanswerwasanoath，deepandheartfelt。
“Yes，“continuedJack，“manager-timberisrareandslow-growingstuff，Tony。“
AgainTonysworebutkeptsilence，andsoremainedtilltheyhadreachedhishome。Togethertheywalkedintothelivingroom。
TheretheyfoundAnnette，andwithherMcNish。Bothroseupontheirentrance，McNishshowingsomeslightconfusion，andassumingtheattitudeofabulldogonguard，Annettevividlyeager，expectant，anxious。
“Well，“shecried，herhandsgoingflutteringtoherbosom。
“Ihavegotajob，Annette，“saidTony，withashortlaugh。“Hereismyboss。“
ForamomenttheothersstoodlookingatJack，surprisedintomotionlesssilence。
“Itellyou，heisthenewmanager，“repeatedTony，“andheismyboss。“
“Whatdoeshemean，Jack？“criedthegirl，comingforwardtoMaitlandwithaquick，impulsivemovement。
“Justwhathesays，Annette。IamthenewmanageroftheplaningmillandIhavegivenTonyajob。“
Againtherefellasilence。IntotheeyesofthebulldogMcNishthereshotastrangegleamofsomethingthatseemedalmostlikepleasure。Inthosebriefmomentsofsilencelifewasreadjustingitselfwiththemall。Maitlandhadpassedfromtherankandfileoftheworkersintotheclassofthosewhodirectandcontroltheirwork。BredastheywereandtrainedastheywereinthedemocraticatmosphereofCanada，theywereimmediatelyconsciousoftheshiftingofvalues。
Annettewasthefirsttobreaksilence。“IwishIcouldthankyou，“shesaid，“butIcannot。Icannot。“Thegirl’sfacehadchanged。Theeagerlighthadfadedfromherdarkeyes，herhandsdroppedquietlytoherside。“ButIamsureyouknow，“sheaddedafterapause，“howvery，verygratefulIam，howgratefulweallare，Mr。Maitland。“
“Annette，“saidJackseverely，“dropthat’Mr。’stuff。Iwasyourfriendyesterday。AmIanylessyourfriendto-day？Trueenough，IamTony’sboss，butTonyismyfriend——thatis，ifhewantstohaveitso。Youmustbelievethis，Annette。“
Heofferedherhishand。Withasuddenimpulseshetookitinbothofhersandheldithardagainstherbreast，hereyesmeanwhileburningintohiswithalookofadoration，openandunashamed。Sheapparentlyforgottheothersintheroom。
“Jack，“shecried，hervoicethrillingwithpassion，“Idon’tcarewhatyouare。Idon’tcarewhatyouthink。Iwillnever，neverforgetwhatyouhavedoneforme。“
MaitlandflungaswiftglanceatMcNishandwasstartledatthelookofrage，ofagonisedrage，thatconvulsedhisface。
“MydearAnnette，“hesaid，withalightlaugh，“don’tmaketoomuchofit。IwasgladtohelpTonyandyou。Whyshouldn’tIhelpoldfriends？“
Ashewasspeakingtheyheardthesoundofadoorclosingandlookingabout，JackfoundthatMcNishhadgone，tobefollowedbyTonyamomentortwolater。
“Oh，nevermindhim，“criedAnnette，answeringJack’slookofsurprise。“Hehastogotowork。Anditdoesn’tmatterintheleast。“
JackwasvaguelydisturbedbyMcNish’ssuddendisappearance。
“But，Annette，“hesaid，“Idon’twantMcNishtothinkthatI——thatyou——“
“What？“Sheleanedtowardhim，herfaceallglowingwithwarmandeagerlight，hereyesaflame，herbosomheaving。“What，Jack？“shewhispered。“Whatdoesitmatterwhathethinks？“
Heputouthishands。Withaquick，lightstepshewasclosetohim，herfaceliftedupinpassionatesurrender。SwiftlyJack’sarmswentaroundherandhedrewhertowardhim。
“Annette，dear，“hesaid，andhisvoicewasquietandkind，tookind。“Youareadeargirlandagoodgirl，andIamgladtohavehelpedyouandshallalwaysbegladtohelpyou。“
ThedooropenedandTonyslippedintotheroom。Withpassionateviolence，Annettethrewawaytheencirclingarms。
“Ah！“shecried，asobcatchinghervoice。“You——youshameme。
No——Ishamemyself。“Rigid，withheadflungback，shestoodbefor
