grows on one."

He had no desire to conceal the fact that he had come out on Sylvia's
behalf--it never occurred to him to mention it. He was trying to
analyze the feelings which had rendered the sacrifice he made in
leaving home a little easier.

"I don't think the dread of acquiring that habit is common among your
people," Flora said mischievously. "It doesn't sound like a very
convincing reason."

"No," replied George, with a smile. "Still, it had some weight. You
see, it isn't difficult to get lazy and slack, and I'd done nothing
except a little fishing and shooting for several years. I didn't want
to sink into a mere lounger about country houses and clubs. It's
pleasant, but too much of it is apt to unfit one for anything else."

"You believe it's safer, for example, to haul stovewood home through
the Canadian frost or drive a plow under the scorching sun?"

"Yes; I think I feel something of the kind."

Flora somewhat astonished him by her scornful laugh.

"You're wise," she said. "We have had sportsmen here from your
country, and I've a vivid memory of one or two. One could see by their
coarse faces that they ate and drank too much; and they seemed
determined to avoid discomfort at any cost. I suppose they could
shoot, but they could neither strip a gun nor carry it on a long day's
march. The last party thought it needful to take a teamload of