First and foremost in his mind was the conversation with the Government
Inspector just before the death of Miss Jennings. She had taken him
seriously to task about the condition of the store, and her words had
stung him; they were so earnest and truthful. At the very moment of his
entrance to the cloak-room he was mentally censuring himself for his
almost criminal thoughtlessness for the consideration of others.
Then came the dying words and the glance of those death-glazed eyes. He
shuddered even now when he recalled them so vividly.
Since then the awakening of his conscience had come, he had seen
himself exactly as he was, a traitor to himself, to humanity, and to his
God, and the sight filled him with remorse. He was shamed and repentant.
What to do next, was the question of his soul. He could not undo the
past, but, thank God, there was still a present and a future!
He paced the floor of his library long after his wife and son were in
bed, but the next morning at breakfast he told them his decision.
Mrs. Denton was a vain woman, who thought of little but the fashions,
and whose time was nearly always taken up with what she termed her
"social obligations."
Her husband's serious words had the effect of frightening her badly.
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