choose. Are you
content to go on as you are doing now?"

Nasmyth's face flushed as he saw the smile in Gordon's eyes, for it
was evident that Wisbech and Laura Waynefleet held much the same views
concerning him. They appeared to fancy that he required a lot of what
might be termed judicious prodding. This was in one sense not exactly
flattering, but he did not immediately mention his great project for
drying out the valley. He would not hasten to remove a wrong
impression concerning himself.

"Well," resumed Wisbech, seeing he did not answer, "if you care to go
back and take up your profession in England again, I think I can
contrive to give you a fair start. You needn't be diffident. I can
afford it, and the thing is more or less my duty."

Nasmyth sat silent. There was no doubt that the comfort and refinement
of the old life appealed to one side of his nature, and there were
respects in which his present surroundings jarred on him. It is also
probable that, had the offer been made him before he had had a certain
talk with Laura Waynefleet, he would have profited by it, but she had
roused something that was latent in him, and at the same time endued
him with a vague distrust of himself, the effect of which was largely
beneficial. He had realized then his perilous propensity for what she
had called drifting, and, after all, men of his kind are likely to
drift fastest when everything is made pleasant for them. It was
characteristic that he looked inquiringly at Gordon, who nodded.

"I think you ought to go, if it's only for a year or two," said
Gordon. "It's the life you were born to. Give it another trial. You
can come back to the Bush again if you find it fails."

Nasmyth appeared to consider this, and the two men watched him
intently, Wisbech with a curious expression in his shrewd eyes. Then,
somewhat to their surprise, Nasmyth broke into a little harsh laugh.

"That there is a possibility of my failing seems sufficient," he said.
"Here I must fight. I am, as we say, up against it." He turned to
Wisbech. "Now if you will listen, I will tell you something."

For the next few minutes he described his project for running the
water out of the valley, and when he sat silent again there was
satisfaction in Wisbech's face.

"Well," said Wisbech, "I am going to give you your opportunity. It's a
thing I insist upon, and, as it happens, I'm in a position to do it
more or less effectually. I have letters to folks of so