e had always cared for Millicent. Everything had been done in
order that he might marry her--the quarrel with his father, the finding
of the Simiacine, the determination to get well which had saved his
life--all this so that he might marry Millicent. And now he was going
to marry her, and it must be all right. Perhaps, as men get older, the
effervescent elation of youth leaves them; but they are none the less
happy. That must be it.

CHAPTER XXXVI. NO COMPROMISE

Where he fixed his heart he set his hand
To do the thing he willed.

"MY DEAR SIR JOHN,--It is useless my pretending to ignore your views
respecting Jack's marriage to Millicent; and I therefore take up my pen
with regret to inform you that the two young people have now decided to
make public their engagement. Moreover, I imagine it is their intention
to get married very soon. You and I have been friends through a longer
spell of years than many lives and most friendships extend, and at
the risk of being considered inconsequent I must pause to thank
you--well--to thank you for having been so true a friend to me all
through my life. If that life were given to me to begin again, I should
like to retrace the years back to a point when--little more than a
child--I yielded to influence and made a great mistake. I should like
to begin my life over again from there. When you first signified your
disapproval of Millicent as a wife for Jack, I confess I was a little
nettled; but on the strength of the friendship to which I have referred
I must ask you to believe that never from the moment that I learnt your
opinion have I by thought or action gone counter to it. This marriage
is none of my doing. Jack is too good for her--I see that now. You are
wiser than I--you always have been. If any word of mine can alleviate
your distress at this unwelcome event, let it be that I am certain that
Millicent has the right feeling for your boy; and from this knowledge
I cannot but gather great hopes. All may yet come to your satisfaction.
Millicent is young, and perhaps a little volatile, but Jack inherits
your strength of character; he may mould her to better things than
either you or I dream of. I hope sincerely that it may be so. If I
have appeared passive in this matter it is not because I have been
indifferent; but I know that my yea or nay could carry no weight.--Your
old friend,

"CAROLINE CANTOURNE."

This letter reached S