martness--that
won me over to a concurrence in the scheme; for, at heart, I neither
liked the notion of "service," nor the prospect of the abstemious
living he had so pointedly alluded to. Still, to justify the favorable
impression he had conceived of me, and also with some half hope that I
should see "life"--the ruling passion of my mind--under a new aspect, I
resolved to accept the proposition so soon as it should be made to me;
nor had I long to wait that moment.

"Con, my lad," said the captain, "you may leave that belt there; come
aft here,--I want to speak to you. What are your plans when you reach
Quebec? Do you mean to look after your old master, Sir Dudley, again?"

"No, sir; I have had enough of salt water for a time,--I 'll keep my
feet on dry land now."

"But what line of life do you propose to follow?"

I hesitated for the answer, and was silent.

"I mean," resumed he, "is it your intention to become a farm-servant
with some of the emigrant families, or will you seek for employment in
the town?"

"Or would you like to enlist, my lad?" broke in another.

"No, thank you, sir; promotion is slow from the ranks, and I 've a
notion one ought to move 'up,' as they move 'on,' in life."

"Listen to the varlet now," said Pike, in French; "the fellow's as cool
with us as if we were exactly his equals, and no more. I 'll tell you
what it is, lads," added he, seriously, "when such rogues journey the
road of life singly, they raise _themselves_ to station and eminence;
but when they herd together in masses, these are the fellows who pull
_others_ down, and effect the most disastrous social revolutions.--So
you 'll not be a soldier Con?" added he, resuming the vernacular;
"well, what are your ideas as to the civil service?"

"Anything to begin with, sir."

"Quite right, lad,--well said; a fair start is all you ask?"

"Why, sir, I carry no weight, either in the shape of goods or character;
and if a light equipment gives speed, I 've a chance to be placed well."

The captain gave a side-glance at the others as though to say, "Was
I correct in my opinion of this fellow?" and then went on: "I have a
thought in my head for you, Con: there is a lady of my acquaintance at
Quebec wants a servant; now, if you could pick up some notion of the
duties, I 've no doubt you'd learn the remainder rapidly."

"I used to wait on Sir Dudley, sir, and am therefore not entirely
ignorant."

"Very true; and as these gentlemen an