In carrying her wrap into the room the Governor had frustrated any hope
she may have had for a private word with him; but she betrayed no
resentment.
"It's really much nicer changing indoors," she laughed, standing before
a mirror to adjust the cap. "Coming in I shifted my headgear just before
we reached town. Behold me now, a woman transformed!"
The Governor plucked Archie's sleeve as a sign that he was not to drop
back and she walked to the car between them.
With a smile and a wave of the hand she was gone and they stood at the
curb looking after her until the limousine was out of sight.
"Thank you, lad," said the Governor quietly.
They went up to his den, where they smoked for some time in silence. The
Governor seemed to be gathering himself together after the strain of the
three difficult hours and when he spoke finally it was with a deep sigh.
"Well, Archie, we must bear ourselves as men in all our perplexities. We
are put into this world for a purpose, every chick of us, and there's no
use kicking the shins of the high gods. I feel a leading; there's
something pulling us both; unseen powers knocking us about. Tomorrow I
shall be engaged most of the day; there are some of the brotherhood to
meet and it must be managed with caution. I suggest that you stretch
your legs in the park and feed the swans as a tranquilizer. Soon we
shall be abroad on the eternal quest. The quest for what, I see written
in your eyes! For peace, Archie; for happiness! It may be nearer than we
think--there's always that to tie our hopes to!"
"It would be possible, I suppose," said Archie slowly, "for us to cut it
all out, settle back into our old places--"
"Never!" cried the Governor., "I tell you we've got to complete the
circle! If we stop now we're ruined, both of us! We've got to go right
on. I know what's the matter with you; it's that dear sister of mine who
has wakened in you all manner of regrets and yearnings for your old
life. Ah, she couldn't fail to affect you that way; she's so wholly the
real thing! Seeing her probably made you homesick for your Isabel.
There! I thought you would jump! And maybe you think I haven't been
troubled in the same way about my little affair! There would be
something fundamentally wrong with us, lad, if we didn't feel, when we
stood before a beautiful noble woman, as though we were in a divine
presence. That's the test, Archie; so long as we are sensible of that
feeling there's some hope for us in this world and the next."
III
Archie learned from Baring, who brought up his breakfast, that the
Governor had left the house.
"It was our orders to take good care of you, sir; if there's any way we
can serve you--"
"A morning paper; that will be all, thank you. I shall be going out
presently."
"Very good, sir. The master thought it likely you would spend the day
out. He will hardly be in himself before six."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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