awrence
he remarked a difference that was puzzling until he understood its
origin. Mrs. Featherstone had an unmistakable stamp of dignity, but
her face was gentle and her look very friendly; her daughter was tall
and Foster thought remarkably graceful, with an air of pride and
reserve, although this vanished when she gave him a frank welcoming
smile. Featherstone, who was older than his wife, had short, gray
hair, and a lined, brown face, but looked strong and carried himself
well.

Foster, who liked them at once, wondered rather anxiously whether he
had pleased or disappointed them. But he imagined that they would
reserve their opinion. They were, of course, not the people to show
what they thought, and if he had felt any embarrassment, they would
have known how to put him at his ease. Still his type was, no doubt,
new to them and his views might jar. He did not remember what they
said, but they somehow made him feel he was not a stranger but a friend
who had a claim, and when he went to his room he knew he would enjoy
his stay with Featherstone's people.

VI

HIS COMRADE'S STORY

Foster spent the most part of the next day in the open air with his
host. Featherstone had a quiet, genial manner and seemed to have read
much, though he held the narrow views that sometimes mark the
untraveled Englishman. He appeared to be scrupulously just and showed
sound judgment about matters he understood, but he had strong
prejudices and Foster did not think him clever. With his rather
sensitive pride and fastidiousness he was certainly not the man to make
his mark in Canada, and Foster began to understand certain traits of
his comrade's that had puzzled him. Lawrence, although he had keener
intelligence, was not quite so fine a type as his father, and in
consequence stood rough wear better. But he too, in spite of his
physical courage, now and then showed a supine carelessness and tried
to avoid, instead of boldly grappling with, things that jarred.

They set out to go shooting, but Featherstone stopped to talk to
everybody they met, and showed keen interest in such matters as the
turnip crop and the price of sheep. It was clear that he was liked and
respected. Sometimes he turned aside to examine tottering gates and
blocked ditches, and commented to Foster upon the economics of farming
and the burden of taxes. The latter soon gathered that there was not
much profit to be derived from a small moorland estate