"Oh, no!" Lisle assured him. "It only struck me that you might find the novelty of the experience wearing off. Besides, you're improving; in a year or two you'll make quite a reliable prospector's packer." "That's something," replied Crestwick, grinning. "Not long ago I thought I'd make a sportsman; one of Gladwyne's kind. The ambition doesn't so much appeal to me now. But I want to be rather more than a looker-on. Can't you let me put something into one of these claims?" "Not a cent! In the first place, you'd have some trouble in raising the money; in the second, I might be accused of playing Batley's game." "The last's ridiculous. But if I'm not to do anything, it brings me back to the question--why am I staying here?" "I can't tell you that. I'll only suggest that if you hold out until you come into your property, you'll go back much more fit in several ways to look after it. I should imagine you'd find less occasion to emulate people like Batley and Gladwyne then. Of course, I don't know if that'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."