bloodthirsty mosquitoes swarm; and ran daunting risks on the lonely
prospecting trail. Now it looked as if chance had offered him an easier
lot; he could apparently choose between the privations of the wilderness
and civilized comfort, but while he grappled with a certain longing he
knew this was not so. He had adopted the pioneers' Spartan code; one
must stand by one's bargain, and do the thing one had undertaken.

For a few moments he was silent, lost in rather gloomy thought, with a
frown on his brown face, and Mrs. Allott, his English relative, studied
him across the table. On the whole, Jim Thirlwell had improved in
Canada, and she thought he would be welcomed if he returned to England.
She had been his mother's friend, and during the week or two they had
now spent together, had decided that if he proved amenable she would
help him to make a career. Indeed, it was largely on Thirlwell's account
she had accompanied her husband on his American tour.

Jim had certain advantages. He was not clever, but his remarks were
sometimes smarter than he knew. Then he had a quiet voice and manner
that impressed one, even when one differed from him, as one often did.
He was not handsome, and his face was rather thin, but his features were
well-defined, and she liked his firm mouth and steady look. His figure
was good and marked by a touch of athletic grace. Then she was, on the
whole, satisfied with the way he chose and wore his clothes. His mother
had held a leading place in the exclusive society of a quiet cathedral
town, until her husband lost his small fortune. Mrs. Allott understood
that something might have been saved had Tom Thirlwell been less
scrupulous; but Tom had unconventional views about money, and Jim was
like his father in many ways. Mrs. Allott, having done her best to
enlighten him, hoped he would now see where his advantage lay.