No wonder that he takes the view he does,
and that he refuses to consider that even the devotion and courage
he afterwards showed can redeem what he considers is a disgrace.
You always said that he was brave, Doctor, and I believe now there
is no braver man living; but that makes it so much the worse for
him. A coward would be more than satisfied with himself for what
he did afterwards, and would regard it as having completely wiped
out any failing, while he magnifies the failing, such as it was,
and places but small weight on what he afterwards did. I like him
all the better for it. I know the fault, if fault it was, and I
thought it so at the time, was one for which he was not responsible,
and yet I like him all the better that he feels it so deeply."
"Well, my dear, you had better tell him so," the Doctor said
dryly. "I really agree with what you say, and you make an excellent
advocate. I cannot do better than leave the matter in your hands.
You know, child," he said, changing his tone, "I have from the first
wished for Bathurst and you to come together, and if you don't do
so I shall say you are the most wrong headed young people I ever met.
He loves you, and I don't think there is any question about your
feelings, and you ought to make matters right somehow. Unfortunately,
he is a singularly pig headed man when he gets an idea in his mind.
However, I hope that it will come all right. By the way, he asked
were you well enough to see him today?"
"I would rather not see him till tomorrow," the girl said.
Pages:
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509