father's heart. He was sure, on the contrary, that were he to do
so, he and his father would go back to the hotel as enemies. But he
was quite resolved that the story should be told sooner or later,--
should be told before the day fixed for the wedding. If it was to
be told by himself, what occasion could be so fitting as the
present? But, if it were to be done on this morning, it would be
unwise to harass his father by any small previous contradictions.

They were now up among the scattered prostrate logs, and had again
taken up the question of the business of wood-cutting. 'No, George;
it would never have done for you; not as a mainstay. I thought of
giving it up to you once, but I knew that it would make a poor man
of you.'

'I wish you had,' said George, who was unable to repress the feeling
of his heart.

'Why do you say that? What a fool you must be if you think it!
There is nothing you may not do where you are, and you have got it
all into your own hands, with little or no outlay. The rent is
nothing; and the business is there ready made for you. In your
position, if you find the hotel is not enough, there is nothing you
cannot take up.' They had now seated themselves on the trunk of a
pine tree; and Michel Voss having drawn a pipe from his pocket and
filled it, was lighting it as he sat upon the wood. 'No, my boy,'
he continued, 'you'll have a better life of it than your father, I
don't doubt. After all, the towns are better than the country.
There is more to be seen and more to be learned. I don't complain.
The Lord has been very good to me. I've had enough of everything,
and have been able to keep my head up. But I feel a little sad when