t. Marriage had not much attraction for him,
but if he did marry, he meant to choose a wife of a different type.

"Sadie's a very good sort," Charnock resumed. "She knows what we are,
and doesn't expect too much; not the kind of girl to make ridiculous
demands. In fact, Sadie can make allowances."

Festing thought this was doubtful praise, although it bore out his
opinion of the girl. For all that, Sadie might not be so willing to
make allowances for her husband as for a lover of whom she was not quite
sure.

"Perhaps that kind of thing has advantages," he said. "But I don't
know--"

"I do know," said Charnock; "I've tried the other way. The feeling that
you're expected to keep on a high plane soon gets tiresome; besides, it
isn't natural. It's better to be taken for what you are."

"I suppose so," Festing assented. "Anyway, if Sadie's satisfied----"

Charnock grinned, although there was a touch of color in his face.

"You're not given to flattery, but might use a little tact. I've had a
knock and am not quite sober, so I can't argue the point. Then it isn't
your business if Sadie's satisfied or not."

"That's so. But what are you going to do when your creditors turn you
out?"

"Everything's arranged. I'm going to help Keller at the hotel and
store."

Festing got up. "Well, I've stopped longer than I meant. I wish you good
luck!"

"We'll have a drink," said Charnock, reaching for the bottle with an
unsteady hand. Then he paused and gave Festing a suspicious look. "It's
curious about that portrait! I used to see you gazing at it, and don't
remember that I picked it up."

"No, thanks," said Festing, refusing the glass. "I think you've had
enough. In fact, it might have been better when you were wiping the
slate clean if you had put the bottle in the stove."

He went out and walked back to the camp in the moonlight, thinking hard.
He was angry with Charnock, but vaguely sorry. Bob had some virtues and
was throwing himself away, although, when one came to think of it, this
was only true to some extent. What one meant was that he was throwing
away his opportunities of rising to a higher plane; while Bob was
satisfied with his present level Sadie was good enough for him, perhaps
too good. Life together might be hard for both, and there was a touch of
pathos in his burning all the tender tokens that bound him to the past,
though it was ominous that he kept the whisky. He could, however, get as
much liquor as h