"Henry, I know too well your disposition to shirk the unpleasant duties of life, to be much surprised that, when tried by this test, you were found wanting.

But this wounds me deeply.

People in Sardis think my disposition hard and exacting; they think I care for little except to get all that is due me.
But no man here can say that in all his long life Robert Glen shirked or evaded a single duty that he owed to the community or his fellow-men, no matter how dangerous or disagreeable that duty might be.

To have you fail in this respect and to take and maintain your place in the front rank with other men is a terrible blow to my pride." "O, Harry, is that you ?" said his mother, coming into the room at that moment and throwing herself into her son's arms.

"I was lying down when I heard your voice, and I dressed and hurried down as quickly as possible.