"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."