lt my superiority in
consequence, until I came down to the beginnings of things with them."

"Her--her father? Why--he's dead--he--"

"And yet through her I have learned of him. I believe he was a man who
walked with God, and at Cassandra's side I have trod in his secret
places."

"That's right. I'm satisfied now, about her. You're all right,
but--but--your mother."

David turned and walked to the table and sat with his head bowed on his
arms. Had he been alone, he would have wept. As it was, he spoke
brokenly of his old home, and the responsibilities now so ruthlessly
thrust upon him. Of his mother's grief and his own, and of this
inheritance that he had never dreamed would be his, and therefore had
never desired, now given him by so cruel a blow. He would not shrink
from whatever duty or obligation might rest upon him, but how could he
adjust his changed circumstances to the conditions he had made for
himself by his sudden marriage. At last it was decided that he should
sail for England without delay, taking the passage already provisionally
engaged for him by Mr. Stretton.

"I can write to Cassandra. She will understand more easily than my
mother. She sees into the heart of things. Her thoughts go to the truth
like arrows of light. She will see that I must go, but she must never
know--I must save her from it if I have to do so at the expense of my
own soul--that the reason I cannot take her with me now is that our
great friends over there are too small to understand her nature and
might despise her. I must go to my mother first and feel my way--see
what can be done. Neither of them must be made to suffer."

"That's right, perfectly--but don't wait too long. Just have it out with
your mother--all of them; the sooner the simpler, the sooner the
simpler."

CHAPTER XXV

IN WHICH DAVID THRYNG VISITS HIS MOTHER

How wise was the advice of the old doctor to make short work of the
confession to his mother, and to face the matter of his marriage bravely
with his august friends and connections, David little knew. If his
marriage had been rash in its haste, nothing in the future should be
done rashly. Possibly he might be obliged to return to America before he
made a full revelation that a wife awaited him in that far and but dimly
appreciated land. In his mind the matter resolved itself into a question
of time and careful adjustment.

Slowly as the boat ploughed through the never resting waters,--slowly as