“I suppose one does not know till one has tried,” said Armine, “but I should mind nothing from Mr. or Miss Parsons.”
“I did not allude to any special case, I only wanted to show you that riches do not by any means make doing good a simpler affair, but rather render it more difficult not to do an equal amount of harm.”
“Of course,” said Armine, “as this misfortune has happened, it is plain that we must submit, and I hope I am bowing to the disappointment.”
“By endeavouring to do your best for God with what is left you?”
“I hope so, but with my health there seems nothing left for me but unmurmuring resignation.”
Mr. Ogilvie was amused at Armine’s notion of unmurmuring resignation, but he added only, “Which would be much assisted by a little exertion.”
“I did exert myself at home, but it is all aimless now.”
“I should have thought you still equally bound to learn and labour to do your duty in Him and for Him. Will you think about what I have said?”
“Yes, Mr. Ogilvie, thank you. I know you mean it kindly, and no one can be expected to enter into my feeling of the uselessness of wasting my time over classical studies when I know I shall never be able to be ordained.”
“Are you sure you are not wasting it now?”