“‘He told me this morning,’ said I, ‘that the passengers were taking up a collection for him.’
“‘Did he, now? ... but there! ... why not for a poor fellow with a wife and children, struck blind in the performance of his duty? Only ... only....’
“‘Only it is not like Dalton,’ said I, harshly.
“‘No, Doctor. Belike it is the humbleness of soul which comes to those whom the Lord deeply chastens, ... and it is a balm, Doctor, ... a balm....’
“When the ship reached Singapore I offered to conduct Dalton to his home. It was a sweet spot on one of the charming little islands a short row from the mainland; a bungalow half hidden in the foliage, a diminutive jetty with a dozen steps leading into the dark green shadows. As our sampan drew near I saw a woman with a toddling child on either side step from this plushy background and descend the steps. Seeing me, a white man and a stranger, she paused at the head of the toy jetty, but as Dalton, wearing his dark glasses, began to fumble at the ladder with no hail, no word of greeting, she slipped her hands from those of the children and ran forward swiftly.
‘Hugh! ...’ she cried. ‘... Hugh!’
“‘One minute, girlie,’ answered Dalton. His voice was full, cheerful, a fat voice, Doctor, and a trifle flat in timbre, and as it reached the ears of the woman I saw her stop as one might stop who runs to meet a bullet full in the chest.
“‘Hugh!’ she cried again, and as she was by this time close at hand, I spoke.
“‘He has met with an accident to his eyes ...,’ I began ... and then looked away, but not in time to miss the expression of her face as she cast her eyes first at her husband, then at me, ... and I knew that I had fetched home a stranger to fill a husband’s place.”
Leyden paused and stared moodily at the bowl of his china pipe. “There is a good deal in sacred literature, as well as in the laws of each land, Doctor, concerning the impropriety of interfering with the duration of a man’s life; is there anything regarding the sin of interfering with his death ...? because there ought to be! It cannot be pleasing to God to prolong an existence which He has culled in part....”