What right have we to make ourselves and others
miserable for the sake of an obstinate idealism? It is our duty
to make the best of circumstances. Why will you go cutting your
loaf with a razor when you have a serviceable bread-knife?'
Still Reardon did not speak. The cab rolled on almost silently.
'You love your wife, and this summons she sends is proof that her
thought turns to you as soon as she is in distress.'
'Perhaps she only thought it her duty to let the child's father
know--'
'Perhaps--perhaps--perhaps!' cried Biffen, contemptuously. 'There
goes the razor again! Take the plain, human construction of what
happens. Ask yourself what the vulgar man would do, and do
likewise; that's the only safe rule for you.'
They were both hoarse with too much talking, and for the last
half of the drive neither spoke.
At the railway-station they ate and drank together, but with poor
pretence of appetite. As long as possible they kept within the
warmed rooms. Reardon was pale, and had anxious, restless eyes;
he could not remain seated, though when he had walked about for a
few minutes the trembling of his limbs obliged him to sink down.
Pages:
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803