Harold Bindloss

“ Creighton now and then asked him to lunch when they had business to talk about, and Helen had met him at other times, oftener, indeed, than Creighton thought. She liked Marsland—in fact, she liked no other man as well, and, although he was not her acknowledged lover, she knew where his hopes led.
"You want to find out the right chemical formula, or whatever it is?" she remarked by and by.
"Yes," said Marsland in a resolute voice. "I am going to find it. You see, the ore we are getting up is first-rate stuff, but there's a foreign substance that combines with the metal at high temperatures. ”

“ She knew how Marsland had worked in France, and something of the self-denial his research had cost, and now he was to be cheated of his reward. Besides, she was anxious for herself. It was not for nothing Emslie meant to help her father; she knew Creighton needed help, and she must pay. Still, he had said nothing yet about Emslie's demands, and she could not speak. There was a ray of comfort—Mrs. Cartner was Marsland's friend.
"Let's get on," said one of the men. "We understand Emslie has found a cheap way of reducing the ore. Is he satisfied his process will turn out first-class metal?" ”

“ Cartner was smiling, Helen imagined the others took it for granted that Marsland had failed; but they did not count. All they wanted was to save their money. Emslie and her father were Marsland's real antagonists.
"You can give my post to whom you like, but I feel I can serve you better than anyone else," Marsland resumed, addressing the rest. "After all, Mr. Emslie's share is not the largest; one or two others have invested large sums." ”

“ Marsland drew her to him, and next moment she was in his arms. She went with him down the dale in the soft summer dark, and presently, stopping, said: "I must go, dear. Father may be angry, but if you are firm——"
"If he has any doubts, I'll engage to banish them when my new process is tested," Marsland replied.
Helen gave him a trustful smile, and her confidence was justified, for Creighton acquiesced when Marsland proved that he could produce fine metal from the refractory ore. ”

“ The ore carried a high percentage of a metal that is used for hardening steel, but it was refractory and cost much to smelt. The mine, however, had recently been reopened by a small syndicate of country gentlemen, who had spent much money on the venture and got little back. They persevered because the metal commanded a higher price than it had yet touched.
Marsland, the young engineer, leaned against a shining larch; Helen Creighton, the chairman's daughter, sat on a fallen trunk with a bunch of primroses in her hand. ”

“ Creighton won't take our husbands to the library, because I want to hear your plans," Mrs. Cartner remarked to Emslie. "However, I'll promise not to interrupt unless I feel I must."
Her voice was rather harsh, and she wore an outdoor dress and thick boots; but Helen liked her, and was glad she meant to stop. Her husband made a humorous gesture, and Emslie laughed.
"Your judgment is often good, and we are not a company. We're friends and private adventurers, and your interest in the mine is as large as ours."
"It's larger," Mrs. Cartner rejoined. ”

“ You have not earned very much yet."
"We have not. I hope to persuade you that we can earn something more."
"Then I don't see why you should not begin. The others, of course, can go away if they like." ”