Howard went to his room to make ready, and his mother went with him. The Judge was walking up and down in his office as they passed his door. Florence entered, and the Judge bowed to her.
"Are you going to tell Howard good-bye?" she asked.
"That's easy enough," he answered.
"He will come in here to see you before he goes."
"How do you know?"
"I know because it is not possible for him to prove so unnatural as—"
The Judge raised his hand. "Don't say it, please."
She stood looking at him. "Don't you think you ought to tell him why you have hardened your heart against him?"
"I shall tell him nothing."
"And is that the part of a true man? Is it not almost inhuman to let him suffer in ignorance?"