very thin. The danger
of provoking evil bulked very big. What was his duty? He suffered an
agony of indecision. And again with a slight inflection of mockery in
his tone, Richard spoke.

"All blind chance, Julius? I declare I get a little weary of this Deity
of yours. He neglects his business so flagrantly. He really is rather
scandalously much of an absentee. And He would be so welcome if He
would condescend to deal a trifle more openly with one, and satisfy
one's intelligence and moral sense. If, for instance, He would afford
me some information regarding this same psychological moment which I
need so badly just now as a peg to hang a theory of casualty upon. I am
ambitious--as much in the interests of His reputation as in those of my
own curiosity--to get at the logic of the affair, to get at the why and
wherefore of it, and lay my finger on the spot where differentiation
sets in."

Julius March stood upright. Richard's scorn hurt him. It also
terminated his indecision. For a little space he looked out into the
stark whiteness of the snowy dusk, and then down at the young man,
leaning back in the low chair, there close before him. To Julius'
short-sighted eyes, in the uncertain light, Dickie's face bore
compelling resemblance to Lady Calmady's. This touched him with the
memory of much, and he went back on the thought of the divine
compassion, perpetually renewed, perpetually made evident in the
Eucharistic Sacrifice. Man may rail, yet God is strong and faithful to
bless. Perhaps that way was neither too fantastic, nor too humble,
after all, for Richard to walk in.

"Has no knowledge of the received legend about this subject ever
reached you?"

"No--never--not a word."

"I became acquainted with it accidentally, long ago, before your birth.
It is inadmissible, according to modern canons of thought, as such
legends usually are. And events, subsequent to my acquaintance with it,
conferred on it so singular and painful a significance that I kept my
knowledge to myself. Perhaps when you grew up I ought to have put you
in possession of the facts. They touch you very nearly."

Richard raised his eyebrows.

"Indeed," he said coldly.

"But a fitting opportunity--at least, so I judged, being, I own,
backward and reluctant in the matter--never presented itself. In this,
as in much else, I fear I have betrayed my trust and proved an
unprofitable servant--if so may God forgive me."

"It would have gone hard with Broc