"Well, you owe much of your good condition, it is likely, to your inclination toward athletics and physical culture; but I believe you would be in better condition if you let liquor alone, and did not smoke cigarettes. Your father has weak lungs, and you are not properly developed across the chest. Still you injure the delicate tissues of your lungs by inhaling the smoke of cigarettes. At the same time you are weakening your brain power and your force of character. I am absolutely certain of this, for no fellow who indulges in those things escapes injury."
There was something in Merry's manner that impressed the boy. Frank had a way of convincing listeners when he spoke.
"If I thought so——" muttered Art.
"Would you give up cigarettes and liquor?"
"Well, I don't know. It would be pretty hard."
"Do you mean that your habits have such a hold on you already?"
"If I could go somewhere away from here where there was no whisky and no cigarettes, and I could see none of my chums who drink and smoke, I suppose I might break off."
"Why not here? Are you at your age a slave to cigarettes?"
"Well, you see it's this way: all the fellows know I drink and smoke, and they would laugh at me if I should say I'd stopped. They wouldn't believe it. They would keep at me until they shamed me into keeping on."
"Then you confess that you have not the will power to refuse and stick to it. Can't you see that your will power is weakened?"