s
worth waiting for."

It was the nearest approach to seriousness he considered advisable, for
precept was obnoxious to him and apt to be resented by his companion.

"Now," he added, "what about the mail?"

Crestwick produced a packet of letters which he had not opened yet and
Lisle glanced at two business communications. The boulder kept off most
of the snow, and the glare of the snapping branches, rising and falling
with the gusts, supplied sufficient light.

"Mine's from Bella; there's news in it," Crestwick remarked. "She says
Carew--I don't think you've seen him--is anxious to marry her, and if
she's convinced that I'm getting on satisfactorily, she'll probably
agree. He's--I'm quoting--about as good as she's likely to get; that's
Bella all over."

"What's he like?" Lisle asked with interest.

"To tell the truth, in one way I think she's right--the man's straight;
not the Marple crowd's style. In fact, I found him decidedly
stand-offish, though I'll own there might have been a reason for that.
Anyhow, I'm glad; she might have done a good deal worse. I suppose you
won't mind giving me a testimonial that will set her doubts at rest?"

"You shall have it. Since the man's a good one, I'm nearly as glad as you
are. I've a strong respect for your sister; she stood by you pluckily."

"That's true," asserted Crestwick. "I was a bit of an imbecile, and she's
really hard to beat. She says if the life here's too tough for me I'm to
come back and live with them. That's considerate, because in a way she
can't want me, though I haven't the least doubt she'd make Carew put up
with my company. It decides the question--I'm not going."

"A little while ago you'd have taken Carew's delight for granted,
wouldn't you?"

"I'm beginning to see things," Crestwick answered with a wave of his
hand. Then he paused and looked confused. "After all, though she says I'm
to give you the message, Bella really goes too far now and then."

"She doesn't always mean it. You may as well obey her."

"It's this--if it's any consolation, she has no intention of forgetting
you, and Arthur--that's the fellow's name--is anxious to make your
acquaintance. She says there are men who're not so unresponsive as you
are, but Arthur has never been into the North to get frozen."

Lisle laughed--it was so characteristic of Bella.

"Here's something else," Crestwick proceeded; "about Miss Gladwyne. Bella
thinks you'd be interested to hear that there's