magine we both dislike formal
speeches and Lawrence, knowing this, means to smooth over our meeting.
For all that, there's something to be said, and now, when the others
are here, is the proper time. When we got your telegram in England I
was overwhelmed by gratitude and regret. I saw, in fact, what a fool I
had been." He paused with a gleam of amusement in his embarrassment.
"Indeed, I'm not sure that the recognition of my folly wasn't the
stronger feeling. Now I'm half-ashamed to apologize for my ridiculous
suspicions and must ask you to forget all about them if you can."

"They were very natural suspicions, sir. I couldn't logically blame
you and honestly don't think I did."

"Well," said Featherstone, "it's some comfort to reflect that my wife
and daughter knew you better. I'm glad to think you're generous,
because there is no amend I can make commensurate with the service you
have done us."

"In one sense, it was an excellent joke," Lawrence remarked. "While
Jake was lurking in the bogs and putting up with much unpleasantness on
my account, he was suspected of making away with me for the sake of an
old traveling bag, which was all he could have got. But don't you
think, sir, there was something characteristic about his telegram? I
mean the brief statement of his success."

"My relief was so great that I did not criticize the wording, which I'm
not sure I remember," Featherstone replied.

Lawrence glanced at his mother. "I expect you remember it."

Mrs. Featherstone said nothing, but gave him a gentle, understanding
smile.

Then Featherstone made Foster relate his last meeting with Daly on the
train. Foster had no wish to harrow the listeners' feelings, but his
memory was strangely vivid and he pictured the scene with unconscious
dramatic power. They saw it all, as he had seen it; the background of
flitting trees and glimmering snow, the struggle on the rocking
platform, while the icy wind screamed past the car, and the dark figure
filling, for a moment, the gap in the rails. Then they felt his thrill
of horror when the gap was empty and Pete held up the torn necktie.
Foster concluded with Pete's terse statement, "He just stepped back."

"Into the dark!" said Alice softly and there was silence for the next
few moments.

"He made us suffer," Featherstone remarked. "But he had pluck and
boldly took the best way. It is not for us to judge him now."

Then Lawrence leaned forward with a flushed