第5章
Thenthecongregationhadathrill。InthebackseatroseHarryHobbs。
"I’mnearfortyyearsold，"hecried，inahighnasaltonethatindicatedastateofextremenervoustension，"andIneverspokeinmeetin’before。Iain’thadnouseforchurchesandpreachers，andIguesstheyhadn’tnouseforme。Youfolksallknowme。I’vebeeninthisburgforneareightyears，andIwasadrinkin’，swearin’，fightin’cuss。ThispreachercameintothebarnonedaywhenIwasfreezin’todeathafterabigspree。Hetukmehomewithhimandkep’metherefortwoweeks，settin’upnightswithme，too。Letmebe，"hesaidimpatientlytoBarry，whowastryingtopullhimdowntohisseat。"I’magoin’tospeakthistimeifitkillsme。ManyatimeIdonehimdirtsencethen，buthestucktome，andneverquittillhegotmeturned’round。Iwasgoin’
straighttohell；hesaysI’mgoin’toheavennow。"Herehelaughedwithatouchofscorn。"Idunno。But，bygum！ifyoufirehimanddohimdirt，Idon’tknowwhat’llbecomeofme，butIguessI’llgostraighttohellagain。"
"No，Harry，noyouwon’t。You’llkeeprighton，Harry，straighttoheaven。"Itwasthepreacher’svoice，fullofcheeryconfidence。
Mrs。Inneswasaudiblysniffling；Mrs。StewartDuffwipinghereyes。Itwasdoubtlessthissightthatbroughtherhusbandtohisfeet。
"Idon’tquiteknowwhatthetroubleishere，"hesaid。"I
understandtherearearrears。Iheardsomecriticismoftheminister’spreaching。Ican’tsayIcaremuchforitmyself，butI
wanttosayrightherethatthereareotherthingswantedinaminister，andthisyoungfellowhasgotsomeofthem。Ifhestays，hegetsmymoney；ifhedoesn’t，nooneelsedoes。I’llmakeyougentlemenwhoarekickingaboutfinancesasportingproposition。
I’mwillingtodoublemysubscription，ifanyothertenmenwillcovermyante。"
"I’llcallyou，"saidNeilFraser，"andI’llraiseyouone。"
"I’mwillingtomeetMr。DuffandMr。Fraser，"saidMissQuigg，risingfrombehindherorganwithatriumphantsmileonherface。
"Iain’tgotmuchmoney，"saidHarryHobbs，"butI’llgoyoujusthalfwhatIearnifyou’llmeetmeonthatproposition。"
"Ahmaysay，"saidMr。Innes，yieldingtohiswife’svigorousvocalandphysicalincitations，"A’mprepair—r—edtomak’asubstantialincreaseinmysubscreeption——thatis，ifnecessary，"headdedcautiously。
ThenBarrycameforwardfromthebackofthechurchandstoodbeforetheplatform。Afterlookingthemoverforafewmomentsinsilence，hesaid，inavoiceclear，quiet，butwitharinginitthatmadeitechoineveryheart：
"Haditnotbeenfortheselastspeeches，itwouldhavebeenunnecessarytoallowthemotiontogobeforeyou。IcouldnothaveremainedwhereIamnotwanted。ButnowIampuzzled，Iconfess，I
amreallypuzzledtoknowwhattodo。Iamnotagreatpreacher，I
know，butthenthereareworse。Idon’t，atleastIthinkIdon’t，talknonsense。AndIamnotwhatMr。McFettridgecallsa’goodmixer。’Ontheotherhand，IthinkMr。Innesisrightwhenhesaysthebairnslikeme；atleast，itwouldbreak"——hepaused，hislipquivering，thenhewentonquietly——"itwouldbeveryhardtothinktheydidn’t。"
"Theydothat，then，"saidMrs。Innes，emphatically。
"Soyousee，itisreallyverydifficulttoknowwhattodo。I
wouldhatetogoaway，butitmightberighttogoaway。Isuggestyouletmehaveaweektothinkitover。Canyouwaitthatlong？"
Hishandsome，boyishface，alightwithafineglowofearnestnessandsincerity，madeirresistibleappealtoallbutthosewhoforpersonalreasonswereopposedtohim。
"Yousee，"hecontinued，inatoneofvoicedeliberativeandquitedetached，"thereareanumberofthingstothinkabout。Thosearrears，forinstance，arehardlymyfault——atleast，notaltogether。
Iwaslookingoverthetreasurer’sbookstheotherday，andIwassurprisedtofindhowmanyhadapparentlyquiteforgottentopaytheirchurchsubscription。Itisnodoubtjustanoversight。Forinstance，"headded，intheconfidentialtoneofoneimpartinginterestingandvaluableinformation，"youwillbesurprisedtolearn，Mr。Duff，thatyouaretwenty—fivedollarsbehindinyourpayments。"
AtthisNeilFraserthrewbackhisheadwithaloudlaugh。
"Touche！"hesaid，inajoyousundertone。
Theministerlookedathiminsurprise，andwenton，"AndwhileMr。
InnesandMissQuiggarebothpaidupinfull，Mr。Hayeshasapparentlyneglectedtopayhislastquarter。"
"Hithimagain，"murmuredHarryHobbs，whileMr。Hayesroseinvirtuousindignation。
"Iprotest，Mr。Chairman！"hecried，"againstthesepersonalities。"
"Oh，youquitemistakeme，Mr。Hayes，"saidthepreacher，"thesearenotpersonalities。Iamsimplyshowinghoweasyitisforarrearstoarise，andthatitmaynotbemyfaultatall。Ofcourse，itmayberightformetoresign。Idon’tknowaboutthatyet，butIwanttobeverysure。Itwouldbeeasiertoresign，butIdon’twanttobeaquitter。"
"Imoveweadjourn，"saidNeilFraser。
"Isecondthemotion，"saidStewartDuff。Themotionwascarried，andthemeetingadjourned。
Atthedoortheministerstoodshakinghandswithallastheypassedout，makingnodistinctionintheheartinesswithwhichhegreetedallhisparishioners。ToMissQuigg，however，hesaid，"Thankyou。Youweresplendidlyplucky。"
"Nonsense！"criedthelittlelady，thecolourflaminginherfadedcheeks。"But，"sheaddedhastily，"youdidthatbeautifully，andhedeservedit，thelittlebeast！"
"Solarplexus！"saidNeilFraser，whowasimmediatelybehindMissQuigg。
Theministerglancedfromonetotheotherinperplexity，astheypassedoutofthedoor。
"But，youknow，Iwasonly——"
"Oh，yes，weknow，"criedMissQuigg。"Butifthosemenwouldonlytakehold！Oh，thosemen！"SheturneduponNeilFraserandshookherheadathimviolently。
"Iknow，MissQuigg。Weareahopelessandhelplesslot。Butwe’regoingtoreform。"
"Youneedto，badly，"shesaid。"Butyouneedsomeonetoreformyou。LookatMr。Duffthere，howvastlyimprovedheis，"andshewavedherhandtothatgentleman，whowasdrivingawaywithhiswifeintheirbuckboard。
"Heisaperfectdear，"sighedMrs。Duff，asshebowedtotheminister。"Andyou，too，Stewart，"sheadded，givinghisarmalittlesqueeze，"yousaidjusttherightthingwhenthosehorridpeopleweregoingtoturnhimout。"
"Say！Yourpreacherisn’tsobadafterall，"saidherhusband。
"Wasn’tthataneatoneforoldHayes？"
"Herathergotyou，though，Stewart。"
"Yes，hedid，byJove！Notthefirsttime，either，he’sdoneit。
ButImustlookafterthat。Say，he’sthelimitforfreshnessthough。Orisitfreshness？I’mnotquitesure。"
"Willhestaywithus？"saidhiswife。"Ireallydohopehewill。"
"Guesshe’llstayallright。Hewon’tgiveuphisjob，"saidherhusband。
ButnextweekprovedMr。Duffapoorprophet，fortheministeraftertheserviceinformedhispeoplethathehadcometotheconclusionthatanothermanmightgetbetterresultsasministerofthecongregation；hehadthereforehandedinhisresignationtothePresbytery。
Itwasashocktothemall，butheadheredtohisresolutioninspiteoftearfullamentationsfromthewomen，wide—eyedamazementanddismayfromthebairnsofthecongregation，andindignation，loudlyexpressed，fromNeilFraserandStewartDuff，andothersoftheirkind。
"Well，"saidMissQuigg，strugglingwithindignanttears，asshewaspassingoutofthechurch，"youwon’tseeHarryHobbsinthischurchagain，norme，either。"
"Oh，yes，MissQuigg，Harryhaspromisedmethathewillstickbythechurch，andthathewillbethereeverySunday。Andsowillyou，dearMissQuigg。Iknowyou。Youwilldowhatisright。"
Butthatlittlelady，withherheadveryerectandaredspotburningineachfadedcheek，passedoutofthechurchsayingnothing，theplumesonherjauntylittlehatquiveringdefianceandwrathagainst"thosemen，whohadsolittlespunkastoallowalittlebeastlikeHayestorunthem。"
CHAPTERV
THEWARDRUMCALLS
"Well，dad，"saidBarrynexteveningastheyweresittinginthegardenaftertea，"IfeelsomethinglikeMohammed’scoffin，detachedfromearthbutnotyetascendedintoheaven。It’sunpleasanttobeoutofajob。IconfessIshallalwayscherishamoreintelligentsympathyhenceforthforthegreatunemployed。Butcheerup，dad！Youaretakingthisthingmuchtooseriously。Theworldiswide，andthereissomethingwaitingmethatIcandobetterthananyoneelse。"
Butthefatherhadlittletosay。Hefeltbitterlythehumiliationtowhichhissonhadbeensubjected。
Barryrefusedtoseethehumiliation。
"WhyshouldInotresignifIdecideitismydutysotodo？Andwhy，ontheotherhand，shouldnottheyhavetherighttoterminatemyengagementwiththemwhentheysodesire？That’sdemocraticgovernment。"
"ButgoodLord，Barry！"burstouthisfather，withquiteanunusualdisplayoffeeling；"tothinkthatagentlemanshouldholdhispositionatthewhimofsuchwhippersnappersasHayes，Boggsethocgenusomne。Andmorethanthat，thatIshouldhavetoacceptasmyministeramanwhowouldbethechoiceofcattlelikethat。"
"Afterall，dad，weareruledbymajoritiesinthisageandinthiscountry。Thatisatoncethegloryandthedangerofdemocraticgovernment。Thereisnobetterwaydiscoveredasyet。Andbesides，Icouldn’tgoonhere，dad，preachingSundayafterSundaytopeoplewhoIfeltwereallthetimesaying，’He’snogood’；topeople，inshort，whocouldnotprofitbymypreaching。"
"Becauseithadnopep，eh？"saidhisfatherwithbitterscorn。
"Doyouknow，dad，Ibelievethat’swhatiswrongwithmypreaching：ithasn’tgotpep。Whatpepis，onlytheinitiatedknow。Butthelongandtheshortofthisthingis，itisthepeoplethatmustbesatisfied。Itistheywhohavetostandyourpreaching，theywhopaythepiper。Butcheerup，dad，Ihavenofearforthefuture。"
"NorhaveI，myboy，nottheslightest。Ihopeyoudidnotthinkforamoment，myson，"headdedwithsomedignity，"thatIwasindoubtaboutyourfuture。"
"No，no，dad。Webothfeelalittlesorenaturally，butthefutureisallright。"
"True，mydearboy，true。Iwasforgettingmyself。Asyousay，theworldiswideandyourplaceiswaiting。"
"Hello！herecomesmyfriend，Mr。Duff，"saidBarryinalowvoice。
"HewasreadytothrowMr。McFettridgeoutofthemeetingyesterday，bodyandbones。Awfullyfunny，ifithadn’tbeeninchurch。Wonderwhathewants！Seemsinabitofahurry。"
Buthurryornot，itwasafullhourbeforeMr。Duffintroducedhisbusiness。Asheenteredthegardenhestoodgazingabouthiminamazedwonderanddelight，andthathourwasspentincompanywithMr。Dunbar，exploringthegarden，Barryfollowingbehindlostinamazementatthenewphaseofcharacterdisplayedbytheirvisitor。
"Ihavenothadsuchadelightfulevening，Mr。Dunbar，foryears，"
saidDuff，whentheyhadfinishedmakingtheroundofthegarden。
"Ihaveheardaboutyourgarden，butIhadnoideathatitheldsuchawealthandvarietyoftreasures。Ihadsomethingofagardenmyselfintheoldcountry，butherethereisnotimeapparentlyforanythingbutcattleandhorsesandmoney。ButifyouwouldallowmeIshouldgreatlyliketohavethepleasureofbringingMrs。Dufftoseeyourbeautifulgarden。"
Mr。DuffwasassuredthattheDunbarswouldhavethegreatestpleasureinreceivingMrs。Duff。
"Dobringher，"saidBarry，"andwecanhavealittlemusic，too。
Sheismusical，Iknow。Ihearhersinginchurch。"
"Music！Why，shelovesit。Butshedroppedhermusicwhenshecamehere；thereseemedtobenotime，notime，notime。Iwondersometimes——Well，Imustgetatmybusiness。Itisthisletterthatbringsme。ItisfromanAmericanwhomyouknow，atleast，heknowsyou，aMr。OsborneHowlandofPittsburgh。"
Mr。Dunbarnodded。
"HeisplanningabigtripupthePeaceRivercountryprospectingforoilandmines，andlaterhunting。Hesaysyouandyoursonengagedtoaccompanyhim，andheasksmetocompletearrangementswithyou。IamgettingJimKnighttolookaftertheoutfit。YouknowJim，perhaps。HerunstheLonePineranch。Finechapheis。
Knowsallaboutthehuntingbusiness。Takesapartyintothemountainseveryyear。He’lltakeTomFieldingwithhim。Idon’tknowFielding，butKnightdoes。Mr。Howlandsaystherewillbethreeoftheirparty。Fartoomany，butthat’shisbusiness。I
myselfamratheranxioustolookaftersomeoildeposits，andthiswillbeagoodchance。Whatdoyousay？"
Fatherandsonlookedateachother。
"Itwouldbefine，ifwecouldmanageit，"saidMr。Dunbar，"butmyworkissopressingjustnow。Agreatmanyarecomingin，andIamaloneintheofficeatpresent。Whendoesheproposetostart？"
"Insixweeks’time。Ihopeyoucancome，Mr。Dunbar。Icouldn’thavesaidsoyesterday，butIcannow。Anymanwithagardenlikethis，theproductofhisownplanningandworking，isworthknowing。SoIdohopeyoucanbothcome。Bytheway，Knightwantsacamphand，akindofroustabout，whocancook——ahandyman，youknow。"
"Ihavehim，"saidBarry。"HarryHobbs。"
"Hobbs？Boozesabit，doesn’the？"
"Notnow。Hasn’tforsixmonths。He’sanewman。Icanguaranteehim。"
"Youcan，eh？Well，myexperienceisonceaboozeralwaysaboozer。"
"Oh，"saidBarry，"Hobbsisdifferent。Heisamemberofourchurch，youknow。"
"No，Ididn’tknow。ButIdon’tknowthatthatmakesmuchdifferenceanyway，"saidDuffwithalaugh。"Idon’tmeantobeoffensive，"headded。
"ItdoestoHobbs，he’saChristianmannow。ImeanarealChristian，Mr。Duff。"
"Well，Isupposethereissuchathing。Infact，I’veknownoneortwo，but——well，ifyouguaranteehimI’lltakehim。"
"Iwillguaranteehim，"saidBarry。
"Letmehaveyouranswerto—morrow，"saidDuffashebadethemgood—night。
TheDunbarsdiscussedthematterfarintothenight。ItwasclearlyimpossibleforMr。Dunbartoleavehiswork，andtheonlyquestionwaswhetherornotBarryshouldmakeoneoftheparty。
Barrygreatlydislikedtheideaofleavinghisfatherduringthehotsummermonths，ashesaid，"toslaveawayathisdesk，andtoslopawayinhisbachelordiggings。"Heraisedmanyobjections，butoneconsiderationseemedtosettlethingsfortheDunbars。Tothemapromisewasapromise。
"IfIrememberaright，Barry，wepromisedthatweshouldjointheirpartyonthisexpedition。"
"Yes，"addedBarryquickly，"ifourworkpermittedit。"
"Exactly，"saidhisfather。"Myworkpreventsme，yourworkdoesnot。"
HenceitcamethatbytheendofAugustBarryfoundhimselfinthefarnorthernwildsofthePeaceRivercountry，ahundredmilesorsofromEdmonton，attachedtoaprospecting—huntingpartyofwhichMr。OsborneHowlandwasthenominalhead，butofwhichthe"boss"
wasundoubtedlyhishandsome，athleticandimpetuousdaughterPaula。Thepartyhadnotbeenonthetrailformorethanaweekbeforeeverymemberwasmovingathercommand，andapparentlygladtodoso。
Thepartywerecampedbyarushingriveratthefootofafalls。
Belowthefallstherivermadeawideeddy，thensweptdowninaturbulentrapidforsomemiles。Thelandingwasasmoothandshelvingrockthatpitchedsomewhatsteeplyintotheriver。
TheunfortunateHarry，whoaftertheday’smarchhadexchangedhisheavymarchingbootswiththeirclinginghobnailsforshoesmorecomfortablebutwithlessclingingqualities，inmakingpreparationfortheeveningmealmadehiswaydownthisshelvingrockofwater。
Nosoonerhadhefilledhispailthanhisfootslippedfromunderhim，andinaninstantthepailandhimselfwereintheswiftlyflowingriver。
Hiscrystartledthecamp。
"Hello！"shoutedDuff，withagreatlaugh。"Harryisinthedrink！
Ineverknewhewassofondofwaterasallthat。You’vegottoswimforitnow，oldboy。"
"Throwhimsomething，"saidKnight。
PastthemranBarry，throwingoffcoatandvest。
"Hecan’tswim，"hecried，tearingathisboots。"Throwhimaline，someone。"Herandowntothewater’sedge，plungedin，andswamtowardtheunfortunateHarry，who，splashingwildly，wasbeingcarriedrapidlyintotheroughwater。
"Oh，father，hewillbedrowned！"criedPaula，rushingtowardacanoewhichwasdrawnupontheshore。BeforeanyonecouldreachhershehadpusheditoutandwassteeringovertheboilingcurrentinBarry’swake。Butafterafewstrokesofherpaddleshefoundherselfdrivenfaroutintothecurrentandawayfromthestrugglingmen。Paulahadhadsufficientexperiencewithacanoetohandleitwithconsiderableeaseinsmoothwaterandunderordinaryconditions，butintheswirlofthisroughandswiftwaterthecanoetookthemanagementofitscourseoutofherhands，andshehadallshecoulddotokeepafloat。
"ForGod’ssake，men，gether！"criedBrand。"Shewillbedrownedbeforeoureyes。"
"Comeon，Tom，"criedJimKnight，swinginganothercanoeintothewater。Aglancehegaveatthegirl，anotheratthestrugglingmen，forbythistimeBarrycouldbeseenstrugglingwiththedrowningHobbs。
"Getin，Tom，"orderedKnight，takingthestern。"Wewillgetthemenfirst。Thegirlisallrightinthemeantime。"
"Getthegirl！"commandedBrand。"ForGod’ssakegoforthegirl，"
heentreatedinafrenzyofdistress。
"No，"saidKnight，"themenfirst。She’sallright。"
"Here，"saidDufftoBrand，pushingouttheremainingcanoe，"getintothebow，andstophowling。Thosemenareindangerofbeingdrowned，butKnightwillgetthem。We’llgoforthegirl。"
IttookbutafewminutesforKnightandFielding，whoknewtheircraftthoroughlyandhowtogetthebestoutofherinjustsuchanemergency，todrawupuponHarryandhisrescuer。
"Say，theyarefightinghard，"saidFielding。"ThatbloodylittlefoolischokingthelifeoutofDunbar。MyGod！theyareoutofsight！"
"Goon，"roaredKnight。"Keepyoureyesonthespot，andforHeaven’ssake，paddle！"
"Theyareupagain！Oneofthemis。It’sBarry。Theotherisgone。No，byJove！he’sgothim！Holdon，Barry，we’recoming，"
yelledTom。"Sticktoit，oldboy！"
Swiftlythecanoespedtowardthedrowningmen。
"Theyaregonethistimeforsure，"criedTom，asthecanoeshotoverthespotwherethemenhadlastbeenseen。
"Notmuch！"saidKnight，asreachingoutofthesternhegrippedBarrybythehair。"Holdhard，Barry，"hesaidquietly。"Nomonkeyworknoworyou’lldrownusall。"ImmediatelyBarryceasedstruggling。
"Don’ttrytogetin，Barry。We’llhavetotowyouashore。"
"Allright，Jim，"hesaidbetweenhissobbingbreaths。"Only——
hurryup——I’vegothim——here。"
Knightreacheddowncarefully，liftedBarrytillhishandtouchedthegunwaleofthecanoe。
"Nottoohard，Barry，"hesaid。"I’lleaseyouroundtothestern。
Steady，boy，steady。Don’tdumpus。"
"Allright——Jim——but——he’sunderthewater——here。"
"Oh，nevermindhim。We’llgethimallright。Canyouholdonnow？"saidKnight。
"Yes——Ithinkso。"
"Now，forGod’ssake，Tom，edgeherintotheshore。Seethatlittleeddythere？Swingintothat！You’lldoitallright。
Goodman！"
BythistimeKnightwasabletogetHarry’sheadabovewater。
Inafewminutestheyhadreachedtheshore，andwereworkinghardoverHarry’sunconsciousbody，leavingBarrylyingonthesandtorecoverhisstrength。AlongfightwasnecessarytobringthelifebackintoHarry，bywhichtimeBarrywassufficientlyrecoveredtositup。
"Staywhereyouare，Barry，untilwegetthismanbacktocamp，"
orderedKnight。"We’lllightabitofafireforyou。"
"I’mwarmenough，"saidBarry。
"Warmenough？Youmaybe，butyouwillbebetterwithafire，andyouliebesideittillwegetyou。Don’tmovenow。"
"There’stheothercanoescoming，"saidFielding。"They’llmakeshorealittlelowerdown。They’reallright。Say，she’shandlingthatcanoelikeaman！"
"Who？"saidBarry。
"Why，MissHowland，"saidFielding。"Shewasoutafteryoulikeashot。She’sapluckyone！"
Barrywasonhisfeetinaninstant，watchinganxiouslytheprogressofthecanoes，whichwerebeingslowlyedgedacrosstheriverinalonginclinetowardtheshore。
"They’llmakeit，allright，"saidKnight，afterobservingthemforatime。"Don’tyouworry。Justliedownbythefire。We’llbebackinajiffy。"
Inanhourtheywereallsafelybackincamp，andsufficientlyrecoveredtodiscoverthehumorouspointsintheepisode。ButtheywereallfamiliarenoughwiththetreacherouspossibilitiesofroughandrapidwatertoknowthatforHobbsandhisdelivereratleast，therehadbeensomeseriousmomentsduringtheirfiercestruggleintheriver。
"Anotherminutewouldhavedone，"saidFieldingtohisfriend，astheysatoverthefireaftersupper。
"Ahalfaminutewouldhavebeenjustasgood，"saidKnight。"I
gotBarrybythehairunderwater。Hewasathislastkick，youbet！Andthatrat，"headded，smilinggoodnaturedlyatHarry，"wasdragginghimdownforthelasttime。"
"Ididn’tknownothin’aboutit，"saidpoorHarry，whowaslyingstretchedoutbythefire，stillveryweakandmiserable。"I
didn’tknownothin’aboutit，oryoubetIwoudn’tha’doneit。I
didn’tknownothin’afterhegotme。"
"Afteryougothim，youmean，"saidFielding。
"Iguessthat’sright，"saidHarry，"butIwouldn’tha’gothimifhehadn’tha’gotmefirst。"
TheyalljoinedinthediscussionoftheeventexceptPaula，whosatdistraitandsilent，gazingintothefire，andBarry，wholay，drowsyandrelaxed，onablanketnotfarfromherside。
"Yououghttogotobed，"saidPaulaatlengthinalowvoicetohim。"Youneedagoodnight’ssleep。"
"I’mtootiredtosleep，"saidBarry。"Ifeelratherrotten，infact。Ioughttofeelverygrateful，butsomehowIjustfeelrotten。"
"Canonebegratefulandfeelrottenatthesametime？"saidPaula，makingtalk。
"Beholdme，"repliedBarry。"IknowIamgrateful，butIdofeelrotten。Idon’tthinkIhaveeventhankedyouforriskingyourlifeforme，"headded，turningtowardher。
"Riskingmylife？Nonsense！Ipaddled’roundinthecanoeforabit，tilltwostrongmencametotowmein，andwouldhave，ifI
hadallowedthem。Thanktheboys，whogotyouintime。"Sheshudderedasshespoke。
"Idothankthem，andIdofeelgratefultothem，"saidBarry。"Itwasratheranearthing。Yousee，Ilethimgripme。Ichokedhimoffmyarms，buthesliddowntomythigh，andIcouldnotkickhimoff。Hadtopracticallydrownhim。Eventhenhehungon。"
"Oh，don’tspeakaboutit，"shesaidwithashudder，coveringherfacewithherhands。"Itwastooawful，anditmighthavebeentheendofyou。"Hervoicebrokealittle。
"No，notanend，"answeredBarry，inaquietvoice。"Nottheendbyalongway，notbyaverylongway。"
"Whatdoyoumean？Oh，youarethinkingofimmortality，andallthat，"saidPaula。"It’sachilly，ghostlysubject。Itmakesmeshiver。Igetlittlecomfortoutofit。"
"Ghostlyitis，ifyoumeanathingofspirits，"saidBarry，"butchilly！Whychilly？"Thenheaddedtohimselfinanundertone：
"Iwonder！Iwonder！IwishsometimesIknewmore。"
"Sometimes？"criedPaula。"Always！"sheaddedpassionately。"It’sadreadfulbusinesstome。Tobesuddenlysnatchedoutofthelightandthewarmth，awayfromthetouchofwarmfingersandthesightofdearfaces！Ah，Idreadit！Iloathethethoughtofit。
Ihateit！"
"Andyet，"musedBarry，"somehowIcannotforgetthatouttheresomewherethereisOne，kindly，genial，true，——likemydad。Howgoodhehasbeentome——mydad，Imean，andthatOther，too，hasbeengood。SomehowIthinkofthemtogether。Yes，IamgratefultoHim。"
"Oh，God，youmean，"saidPaula，alittleimpatiently。
"Yes，toGod。Hesavedmeto—day。’Saved，’Isay。Itisaqueerwaytospeak，afterall。WhatIreallyoughttosayisthatGodthoughtitbestthatIshouldcamp’roundhereforabitlongerbeforemovinginnearer。"
"Nearer？"
"Yes，intothenearercircle。Lifemoves’roundacentre，inouterandinnercircles。Thisistheoutercircle。Nearerinthere，itiskindlier，withbetterlightandclearervision。’Weshallknowevenasweareknown。’"Barrymusedon，asifcommuningwithhimself。
"Butwhenyoumovein，"saidPaula，andtherewasnomistakingtheearnestnessofhertone，"youbreaktouchwiththoseyoulovehere。"
"Idon’tknowaboutthat，"answeredBarryquickly。
"Oh，yesyoudo。Youareoutofallthis，——allthis，"shesweptherhandattheworldaroundher，"thisgoodoldworld，allyourjoyandhappiness，allyoulove。Oh，that’stheworstofit；yougiveupyourlove。Ihateit！"sheconcludedwithvehemencesuddenandfierce，assheshookherfisttowardsthestars。