CHAPTER XXIX

“Henrydear—”washergreeting. Hehadfinishedhisbreakfast,andwasbeginningtheTimes.Hissister-in-lawwaspacking.Margaretkneltbyhimandtookthepaperfromhim,feelingthatitwasunusuallyheavyandthick.Then,puttingherfacewhereithadbeen,shelookedupinhiseyes. “Henrydear,lookatme.No,Iwon’thaveyoushirking.Lookatme.There.That’sall.” “You’rereferringtolastevening,”hesaidhuskily.“Ihavereleasedyoufromyourengagement.Icouldfindexcuses,butIwon’t.No,Iwon’t.Athousandtimesno.I’mabadlot,andmustbeleftatthat.” Expelledfromhisoldfortress,Mr.Wilcoxwasbuildinganewone.Hecouldnolongerappearrespectabletoher,sohedefendedhimselfinsteadinaluridpast.Itwasnottruerepentance. “Leaveitwhereyouwill,boy.It’snotgoingtotroubleusIknowwhatI’mtalkingabout,anditwillmakenodifference.” “Nodifference?”heinquired.“Nodifference,whenyoufindthatIamnotthefellowyouthought?”HewasannoyedwithMissSchlegelhere.Hewouldhavepreferredhertobeprostratedbytheblow,oreventorage.Againstthetideofhissinflowedthefeelingthatshewasnotaltogetherwomanly.Hereyesgazedtoostraighttheyhadreadbooksthataresuitableformenonly.Andthoughhehaddreadedascene,andthoughshehaddeterminedagainstone,therewasascene,allthesame.Itwassomehowimperative. “Iamunworthyofyou,”hebegan.“HadIbeenworthy,Ishouldnothavereleasedyoufromyourengagement.IknowwhatIamtalkingabout.Ican’tbeartotalkofsuchthings.Wehadbetterleaveit.” Shekissedhishand.Hejerkeditfromher,and,risingtohisfeet,wenton:“You,withyourshelteredlife,andrefinedpursuits,andfriends,andbooks,youandyoursister,andwomenlikeyou—Isay,howcanyouguessthetemptationsthatlieroundaman?” “Itisdifficultforus,”saidMargaret“butifweareworthmarrying,wedoguess.” “Cutofffromdecentsocietyandfamilyties,whatdoyousupposehappenstothousandsofyoungfellowsoverseas?Isolated.Noonenear.Iknowbybitterexperience,andyetyousayitmakes‘nodifference.’” “Nottome.” Helaughedbitterly.Marg