“The men are saying that most likely, if Mr. Selincourt is such a rich man, he will be sure to have a steamer run up through the Strait two or three times during the summer with provisions, and so it will be bad for Father and the store,” he said, carefully setting the cracked cup for Miles, although by rights it was his own turn to have it.

“What nonsense people talk!” exclaimed Mrs. Burton, with a scornful laugh.  “Mr. Selincourt will have his hands full with managing the fishing fleet, and if he is so unwise as to turn general trader, I dare say we can find some way of underselling him or enticing his customers away.”

Katherine put down her cup of tea with an unsteady movement which spilled some of the contents over the tablecloth.  Here was a view of the situation which she had not thought to be compelled to face.  If Mr. Selincourt did anything which took their trade away, and left them face to face with starvation, would it be their duty to sit down meekly and bear such an injustice, without attempting a blow in self-defence, and all because of that evil from the past which, although so long buried, had suddenly come to life again?

“Katherine, how frightened you look!  You surely are not worrying about a bit of store gossip, which has probably not the slightest foundation in fact?” Mrs. Burton said in remonstrance.

“It is of no use to worry about anything so remote as Mr. Selincourt and the fishing fleet,” Katherine answered languidly.  “But I am so tired that bed for a few hours seems the most desirable thing on earth.”

“Then go, dear, and get a good rest,” said her sister.

But, although Katherine lay down and covered herself with the bedclothes, sleep was long in coming, while the burden she had taken made her heart heavy as lead.

CHAPTER VI

Business Bothers

For a few days ’Duke Radford appeared to get better with astonishing rapidity.  He left his bed, and crept across the store, to sit in the rocking-chair by the kitchen stove, and said he was now quite well.  But when he had pulled up thus far towards strength again, he stopped short, unable to get any farther.  In vain Mrs. Burton plied him with every nourishing food she could think of:  an invalid he remained, weak and depressed, all his old energy and enterprise under a cloud, and with a settled melancholy which nothing could lift.

It was then that the burden of life descended with such crushing force on Katherine.  The work of the store must go on, and it was harder in winter than in summer.  She spent long hours burrowing among the piles of merchandise in the underground chamber beneath the store, where were kept the goods bought and brought to Roaring Water Portage when the waters were open.  Or, with Miles for a companion, she went long distances across the snowy wastes, delivering stores by dog team and sledge.  This was all very