With memory of the old revolt from awe,
He reached a middle height, and at the stars
Which are the brain of heaven, he looked, and sank.
Around the ancient track marched, rank on rank
The army of unalterable law.”
Lester Knapp’s heart swelled, shone bright, escaped out of its misery, felt itself one with the greatness of the whole.
The words kept singing themselves in his ear ... “... he looked, and sank.” “... marched, rank on rank.” “The army of unalterable law.”
The weighty, iron clang of the one-syllabled word at the end gave him a sensation of an ultimate strength somewhere. He leaned on that strength and drew a long free breath.
His lean sallow face was lighted from within, and shone. He leaned far over his desk to hide this. He tried to think of something else, to put away from him this unmerited beauty and greatness. A man who is a failure in a business-office ought not for an instant to forget his failure. The least he can do is to be conscious of his humiliation at all times.
But in spite of himself, his lips were curved in a sweet, happy smile.