dy. Indeed,
Mr Conway is a particular friend of mine; so I assure you we won't
fight."

"Right, right," cried Mr Kennedy, giving the clergyman an energetic
grasp of the hand; "I like to hear you speak that way. I must confess
that I have been a good deal surprised to observe, by what one reads in
the old-country newspapers, as well as by what one sees even hereaway in
the backwood settlements, how little interest clergymen show in the
doings of those who don't happen to belong to their own particular sect;
just as if a soul saved through the means of an Episcopalian was not of
as much value as one saved by a Wesleyan, or a Presbyterian, or a
Dissenter. Why, sir, it seems to me just as mean-spirited and selfish
as if one of our chief factors was so entirely taken up with the doings
and success of his own particular district that he didn't care a
gun-flint for any other district in the Company's service."

There was at least one man listening to these remarks, whose naturally
logical and liberal mind fully agreed with them. This was Jacques
Caradoc, who had entered the room a few minutes before, in company with
his friend Redfeather and Louis Peltier.

"Right, sir! That's fact, straight up and down," said he, in an
approving tone.

"Ha! Jacques, my good fellow, is that you?--Redfeather, my friend, how
are you?" said Mr Kennedy, turning round and grasping a hand of
each.--"Sit down there, Louis, beside Mrs Taddi--eh!--ah!--popple.--Mr
Addison, this is Jacques Caradoc, the best and stoutest hunter between
Hudson's Bay and Oregon."

Jacques smiled and bowed modestly as Mr Addison shook his hand. The
worthy hunter did indeed at that moment look as if he fully merited Mr
Kennedy's eulogium. Instead of endeavouring to ape the gentleman, as
many men in his rank of life would have been likely to do on an occasion
like this, Jacques had not altered his costume a hairbreadth from what
it usually was, excepting that some parts of it were quite new, and all
of it faultlessly clean. He wore the usual capote, but it was his best
one, and had been washed for the occasion. The scarlet belt and blue
leggings were also as bright in colour as if they had been put on for
the first time; and the moccasins, which fitted closely to his
well-formed feet, were of the cleanest and brightest yellow leather,
ornamented, as usual, in front. The collar of his blue-striped shirt
was folded back a little more carefully than usual, expos