He would like to have scraped together a little more knowledge of Barton, but he had been afraid to inquire, there being no good opening given him to do so. *CHAPTER XXI.* *JESSIE RUSSELL.* "It is my lady; O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were!" _Romeo and Juliet_, Act II. sc. ii. "Now, Jess, buck up, my girl! I’ve brought a companion home with me to-night to have a bit of supper and a smoke, so look alive." "All right, dad! Don’t make a fuss about such a trifle," was the response. "Come along, Fellows; don’t stand outside like that, man alive! Come in, and make yourself at home." The frugal board was soon spread with the customary evening meal, which Russell and his daughter were in the habit of partaking alone, but which on the evening in question he had invited Fellows to join them in. When this was finished, the table cleared, and the pipes lighted, the woman’s fingers found full employment upon garments which needed repairing, whilst the men occupied their time in discussing the events of the day, only occasionally allowing those of the larger outer world to engage their attention, since those were matters about which they heard at very irregular intervals. Fellows had not yet found that convenient opportunity he had given Ranger to understand he was waiting for, that he might make Jessie the confidante of his most cherished desires. And now, with the father present, he did not feel that this was an opportune moment. "Puffey was telling me yesterday about the proposal he had made to you of joining their force. Do you intend giving that proposal any serious consideration?" "Well, I scarcely know," laughingly replied Fellows. "But you don’t mean to say the prospect it holds out is better than the one before you here?" "No, I don’t think it is. The only charm about it is the excitement it offers." "There may be some attraction in that to a single man, with youth and health in front of him; but the advance is slow and uncertain, and the life somewhat precarious." "Surely you are not thinking of leaving us so soon?" chimed in Jessie, with just a shade of eagerness in her tone. "I can hardly say that," said Fellows thoughtfully. "But the life here is so dull and monotonous, I must have a change of some sort. I want excitement. I feel at times as if I should go mad!" "Isn’t there any of the men you can make companions of, to spend an occasional evening with?" "Well, I am afraid not; they don’t seem quite my style." "What about the Bartons? I should have thought that one or both of those would have just been about your mark." "I don’t dislike the elder of the two men," said Fellows, "but I can’t say I like the younger one." "Now you mention him," replied Russell, "he certainly does not impress one very favourably. He never has much to say for himself, and seldom joins in our conversation."