Have a pipe, do'; and after a pause he
added in his own way, 'What would you have? The path lies straight from
my feet. Should I quit it? I could not so disappoint you--and all of
them.'
And I knew he was thinking of Graeme and the lads in the mountains he
had taught to be true men. It did not help my rage, but it checked my
speech; so I smoked in silence till he was moved to say--
'And after all, you know, old chap, there are great compensations for
all losses; but for the loss of a good conscience towards God, what can
make up?'
But, all the same, I hoped for some better result from his visit to
Britain. It seemed to me that something must turn up to change such an
unbearable situation.
The year passed, however, and when I looked into Craig's face again I
knew that nothing had been changed, and that he had come back to take up
again his life alone, more resolutely hopeful than ever.
But the year had left its mark upon him too. He was a broader and deeper
man. He had been living and thinking with men of larger ideas and
richer culture, and he was far too quick in sympathy with life to remain
untouched by his surroundings.
Pages:
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276