“He—he’s crippled,” he answered. “He had a bad fall. Didn’t you hear? Hurt himself racing. The doctors give us some hope, there’s no immediate danger, but his strength seems to be going. That’s the main point, you know—strength. I’ve thought if I could get up to Minnesota just now, to help his mother—— But I can’t seem to make it out Of course, business comes first.”
“God help you, Harry!” said Mrs. Stannard, softly. She had risen and he stretched out his hand and took hers in it, and held it for a moment in a tight grip, with his head turned away.
“You were always good, Clara,” he said huskily. “I hope He will.”
“You have dropped your letter,” said Nelson, coming forward. “Or perhaps you do not want it?”
“Thank you,” said Mrs. Stannard. “No, I do not want it now.” Send Francis here, where if he would be successful he must learn to fight against every impulse of his higher nature? What would his father have said? She tore the paper into small pieces with fingers that were firmly tense. “May I put these in your scrap basket? I know that I have taken up too much of your time, Mr. Nelson, I will say good-bye.”
“I am glad to have seen you, Mrs. Stannard,” he said. He looked at his partner, who stood, turned from them, his arms resting on the tall desk, and his head buried in them, and then looked back again at her. She made a movement of comprehension, and slipped quietly out of the door, and pulling her veil quickly over her face, went down the long stairs again that her husband had been wont to traverse, feeling that the dear form was somehow at her side. But she saw nothing, for her eyes were blinded by tears, not for White’s sorrow, not for her husband’s death, but for another and irremediable loss; tears that overflowed and ran down her cheeks, and seemed to keep welling up exhaustlessly from her heart; tears from a pity so deep that it had its source in every happiness of high thought and noble aim and unselfish love that had made her life.
No need to break her faith with the dead! She would not have her boy back in that house of corruption, for all the gifts of Fortune. No need, no need, for her to strike at the name of the firm! That name, so loved, so honoured, slaved for, died for—God in heaven, for what did the Name of the Firm stand?