[Frontispiece: There was about this unusual gentleman that which doubly attracted Mr. Wriford. FRONTISPIECE. _See page 59._] THE CLEAN HEART BY A. S. M. HUTCHINSON AUTHOR OF "THE HAPPY WARRIOR," ETC. WITH FRONTISPIECE BY R. M. CROSBY BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1914 _Copyright, 1914,_ By A. S. M. HUTCHINSON. _All rights reserved_ Published, September, 1914 THE COLONIAL PRESS C. H. SIMONDS CO., BOSTON, U. S. A. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. PSALM LI. CONTENTS BOOK ONE _ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES_ CHAPTER I. Mr. Wriford II. Young Wriford III. Figure of Wriford IV. One Runs: One Follows V. One is Met VI. Fighting It: Telling It VII. Hearing It BOOK TWO _ONE OF THE JOLLY ONES_ I. Intentions, Before having his hair cut, of a Wagoner II. Passionate Attachment to Liver of a Wagoner III. Disturbed Equipoise of a Counterbalancing Machine IV. First Person Singular V. Intentions, in his Nightshirt, of a Farmer VI. Rise and Fall of Interest in a Farmer VII. Profound Attachment to his Farm of a Farmer VIII. First Person Extraordinary BOOK THREE _ONE OF THE FRIGHTENED ONES_ I. Body Work II. Cross Work III. Water that Takes your Breath IV. Water that Swells and Sucks V. Water that Breaks and Roars BOOK FOUR _ONE OF THE OLDEST ONES_ I. Kindness without Gratitude II. Questions without Answers III. Crackjaw Name for Mr. Wriford IV. Clurk for Mr. Master V. Maintop Hail for the Captain BOOK FIVE _ONE OF THE BRIGHT ONES_ I. In a Field II. In a Parlour III. Trial of Mr. Wriford IV. Martyrdom of Master Cupper V. Essie's Idea of It VI. The Vacant Corner VII. Essie VIII. Our Essie IX. Not to Deceive Her X. The Dream XI. The Business XII. The Seeing XIII. Prayer of Mr. Wriford XIV. Pilgrimage THE CLEAN HEART BOOK ONE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES CHAPTER I MR. WRIFORD I Her hands were firm and cool, and his were trembling, trembling; but her eyes were laughing, laughing, and his own eyes burned.