The rector sank back among the cushions, overwhelmed. His voice was uneven and choked.
"Nonsense!" cried Cathewe. "What else could you do?"
"I could have passed by the man who struck me."
"Oh, pshaw! A man can not help being human simply because he wears the cloth. It was the bulliest fight I ever saw. It was magnificent! They weren't in it at any time. And you walloped four of 'em, and one was an ex-pugilist. It was great."
"Don't!"
"They'll call you the fighting parson."
"I shall resign to-morrow. I must begin life all over again. It will be very hard."
"Resign nothing! By the way, I saw General Boderick in the crowd."
"Boderick? Oh, I must hurry. He must have my resignation before he has a chance to demand it."
"Don't you worry about him. I saw him waving his cane like mad when you got up from the floor and smashed that second-ward ruffian. He won't dare to say anything. His daughter thinks that he went up to the club."