“No, I cannot,” was the reply, made in a tone indicating a slight degree of irritation.

“Well, I can, Henry.”

“How many is it, then?”

“Ten days.”

“Never!”

“It is true, for I kept the count.”

“Indeed, then, you are mistaken.  I was only out a gunning three times, and a fishing twice.”

“And that makes five times.  But don’t you remember the day you were made sick by fatigue?”

“Yes, true, but that is only six.”

“And the day you went up the mountain with the party?”

“Yes.”

“And the twice you staid away because it stormed?”

“But, William, that has nothing to do with the matter.  If it stormed so violently that I couldn’t come to the shop, that surely is not to be set down to the account of pleasure-taking.”

“And yet, Henry, I was here, and so were all the workmen but yourself.  If there had not been in your mind a reluctance to coming to the shop, I am sure the storm would not have kept you away.  I am plain with you, because I am your friend, and you know it.  Now, it is this increasing reluctance on your part, that alarms me.  Do not, then, add fuel to a flame, that, if thus nourished, will consume you.”

“But, William——­”

“Don’t make excuses, Henry.  Think of the aggregate of ten lost days.  You can earn a dollar and a half a day, easily, and do earn it whenever you work steadily.  Ten days in three months is fifteen dollars.  All last winter, Ellen went without a cloak, because you could not afford to buy one for her; now the money that you could have earned in the time wasted in the last three months, would have bought her a very comfortable one—­and you know that it is already October, and winter will soon be again upon us.  Sixty dollars a year buys a great many comforts for a poor man.”

Henry Thorne remained silent for some moments.  He felt the force of William Moreland’s reasoning; but his own inclinations were stronger than his friend’s arguments.  He wanted to go with two or three companions a gunning, and even the vision of his young wife shrinking in the keen winter wind, was not sufficient to conquer this desire.

“I will go this once, William,” said he, at length, with a long inspiration; “and then I will quit it.  I see and acknowledge the force of what you say; I never viewed the matter so seriously before.”

“This once may confirm a habit now too strongly fixed,” urged his companion.  “Stop now, while your mind is rationally convinced that it is wrong to waste your time, when it is so much needed for the sake of making comfortable and happy one who loves you, and has cast her lot in life with yours.  Think of Ellen, and be a man.”

“Come, Harry!” said a loud, cheerful voice at the shop door; “we are waiting for you!”

“Ay, ay,” responded Henry Thorne.  “Good morning, William!  I am pledged for to-day.  But after this, I will swear off!” And so saying, he hurried away.