Nobody thinks anything of swearing here." Russell was silent.
"Besides, what can be the harm of it?
it means nothing.

I was thinking the other night, and I concluded that you and Owen are the only two fellows here who don't swear." Russell still said nothing.
"And, after all, I didn't swear; I only called that fellow a surly devil." "O, hush! Eric, hush!" said Russell sadly.

"You wouldn't have said so half-a-year ago." Eric knew what he meant.

The image of his father and mother rose before him, as they sate far away in their lonely Indian home, thinking of him, praying for him, centring all their hopes in him.

In him!--and he knew how many things he was daily doing and saying, which would cut them to the heart.