aint was that he didn't rightly see how he could have the ashes
indicted. _He_ believes in it, any way."

"Well," said Putney, "the fathers of New England all died in the blessed
hope of infant damnation. But that didn't prove it."

"That's something so, Squire. Guess you got me there," said Gates.

"I can understand old Hilary's not wanting to push the thing, under the
circumstances, and I don't blame him. But the law must have its course.
Hilary's got his duty to do. _I_ don't want to do it for him."

XXI.

Hilary could not help himself, though when he took the legal steps he
was obliged to, it seemed to him that he was wilfully urging on the
persecution of that poor young girl and that poor old maid. It was
really ghastly to go through the form of indicting a man who, so far as
any one could prove to the contrary, had passed with his sins before the
tribunal that searches hearts and judges motives rather than acts. But
still the processes had to go on, and Hilary had to prompt them. It was
all talked over in Hilary's family, where he was pitied and forgiven in
that affection which keeps us simple and sincere in spite of the masks
we wear to the world. His wife and his children knew how kind he was,
and how much he suffered in this business which, from the first, he had
tried to be so lenient in. When he wished to talk of it, they all agreed
that Matt must not vex him with his theories and his opinions; and when
he did not talk of it, no one must mention it.

Hilary felt the peculiar hardships of his position, all the more keenly
because he had a conscience that would not permit him to shirk his duty.
He had used his influence, the weight of his character and business
repute, to control the action of the Board towards Northwick, when the
defalcation became known, and now he was doubly bound to respond to the
wishes of the directors in proceeding against him. Most of them believed
that Northwick was still alive; those who were not sure regarded it as a
public duty to have him indicted at any rate, and they all voted that
Hilary should make the necessary complaint. Then Hilary had no choice
but to obey. Another man in his place might have resigned, but he could
not, for he knew that he was finally responsible for Northwick's escape.

He made it no less his duty to find out just how much hardship it would
work Northwick's daughters, and he tried to lend them money. But Suzette
answered for both that her fat