The sense of that necessity--and the sight of those poor girls at the time when I felt my hard duty toward them most painfully--shook me, as a man of my years and my way of life is not often shaken by any distress in the present or any suspense in the future.

I have not recovered it this morning: I hardly feel sure of myself yet." "A man's composure--when he is a man like you--comes with the necessity for it," said Mr.Clare.

"You must have had duties to perform as trying in their way as the duty that lies before you this morning." Mr.Pendril shook his head.

"Many duties as serious; many stories more romantic.

No duty so trying, no story so hopeless, as this." With those words they parted.