What toil, what privation they endured for the first two years! and now the fruits of it began slowly to appear.
No two creatures could be more unlike than Pierre and Duncan.

The Highlander, stern, steady, persevering, cautious, always giving ample reasons for his doing or his not doing.

The Canadian, hopeful, lively, fertile in expedients, and gay as a lark; if one scheme failed another was sure to present itself.

Pierre and Duncan were admirably suited to be friends and neighbours.

The steady perseverance of the Scot helped to temper the volatile temperament of the Frenchman.