man
puffed a furious puff, and broke into a loud, sarcastic laugh.

"No, no," interrupted Mr Grant; "I don't exactly mean that, but I think
that you might give him his way for a year or so. He's a fine, active,
generous fellow; and after the novelty wore off, he would be in a much
better frame of mind to listen to your proposals. Besides" (and Mr
Grant smiled expressively), "Charley is somewhat like his father. He
has got a will of his own; and if you do not give him his way, I very
much fear that he'll--"

"What?" inquired Mr Kennedy abruptly.

"Take it," said Mr Grant.

The puff that burst from Mr Kennedy's lips on hearing this would have
done credit to a thirty-six pounder.

"Take it!" said he; "he'd _better_ not."

The latter part of this speech was not in itself of a nature calculated
to convey much; but the tone of the old trader's voice, the contraction
of his eyebrows, and above all the overwhelming flow of cloudlets that
followed, imparted to it a significance that induced the belief that
Charley's taking his own way would be productive of more terrific
consequences than it was in the power of the most highly imaginative man
to conceive.

"There's his sister Kate, now," continued the old gentleman; "she's as
gentle and biddable as a lamb. I've only to say a word, and she's off
like a shot to do my bidding; and she does it with such a sweet smile
too." There was a touch of pathos in the old trader's voice as he said
this. He was a man of strong feeling, and as impulsive in his
tenderness as in his wrath. "But that rascal Charley," he continued,
"is quite different. He's obstinate as a mule. To be sure, he has a
good temper; and I must say for him he never goes into the sulks, which
is a comfort, for of all things in the world sulking is the most
childish and contemptible. He _generally_ does what I bid him, too.
But he's _always_ getting into scrapes of one kind or other. And during
the last week, notwithstanding all I can say to him, he won't admit that
the best thing for him is to get a place in your counting-room, with the
prospect of rapid promotion in the service. Very odd. I can't
understand it at all;" and Mr Kennedy heaved a deep sigh.

"Did you ever explain to him the prospects that he would have in the
situation you propose for him?" inquired Mr Grant.

"Can't say I ever did."

"Did you ever point out the probable end of a life spent in the woods?"

"No."

"Nor suggest to h