ave dissent.

"That can't happen, in the way you mean. I closed the door of the old
life against my return, with my own hands; and you don't gain
distinction, as the Challoners think of it, in business."

"What business have you gone into?"

Blake's eyes gleamed humorously.

"At present, I'm in the paint line."

"Paint!" Mrs. Keith exclaimed.

"Yes, but not common paint. We use the highest grade of lead and the
purest linseed oil. Varnish also of unapproachable quality, guaranteed
to stand exposure to any climate. There's nothing to equal our
products in North America."

"Do you seriously mean that you are going about selling these things?"

"I'm trying to. I booked an order for two kegs yesterday, but it isn't
to be paid for until arrival, when I shall not be here. Can't I induce
you to give us a trial? Your house must need painting now and then,
and we'll ship you the stuff to Liverpool in air-tight drums. Once you
have tried it you'll use nothing else."

Mrs. Keith laughed.

"Dick, you're a marvel! I'm glad adversity hasn't soured you; but you
know that you won't make enough to keep you in neckties at any business
you take up. It's ludicrous to think of your running about with paint
samples!"

"You seem to doubt my ability," Blake said humorously. "Here comes my
American partner. He has been waiting for a word with me since this
morning."

"And you kept him waiting? That was a true Blake. But bring him here.
I want to know your friend."

They spent a pleasant evening; and the next afternoon Blake and Harding
drove up the mountain with Mrs. Keith and one or two others. The city
was unpleasantly hot and the breeze that swept its streets blew clouds
of sand and cement about, for Montreal is subject to fits of feverish
constructional activity and on every other block buildings were being
torn down and replaced by larger ones of concrete and steel. Leaving
its outskirts, the carriage climbed the road which winds in loops
through the shade of overhanging trees. Wide views of blue hills and
shining river opened up through gaps in the foliage; the air lost its
humid warmth and grew fresh and invigorating.

Reaching the level summit, they found seats near the edge of a steep,
wooded slope. The strip of tableland is not remarkably picturesque,
but it is thickly covered with trees, and one can look out across a
vast stretch of country traversed by the great river.

When the party scattered,