Nowadays they had the pleasant sense of understanding each other on most points, and the result was a good deal of honest mutual admiration.

The one's physical vigour and adroitness, the other's active mind, liberal thoughts, studious habits, proved reciprocally attractive.

Though in unlike ways, both were impressively modern.

Of late it had seemed as if the man of open air, checked in his natural courses, thrown back upon his meditations, turned to the student, with hope of guidance in new paths, of counsel amid unfamiliar obstacles.

To the observant Rolfe, his friend's position abounded in speculative interest.