"We shall never get forward if we move in the midst of a fog of pity and sentiment."
Malling said no more; but as he watched the professor shambling to the garden gate, he felt as if he had betrayed Marcus Harding.
X
Soon after Malling had returned to London, he received the following note from Mr. Harding:
Onslow Gardens, June —th.
Dear Mr. Malling:
I seem to have some remembrance of your saying to me at Tankerton that you wished to speak to Professor Stepton with regard to a certain matter. I may be wrong in my recollection. If, however, I am right, I now beg you not to speak to the professor. I have, of course, the very highest regard for his discretion; nevertheless, one must not be selfish. One must not think only of one's self. I have obligations to others, and I fear, when we were together at Tankerton, I forgot them. A word of assurance from you that Professor Stepton knows nothing of our conversation will set at rest the mind of
Yours sincerely,
Marcus Harding.
As soon as he had read this communication, Malling realized that he had been right in his supposition that a new reserve was growing up in Henry Chichester. He was aware of Chichester's reserve in the letter of the rector. He was aware, too, of the latter's situation as he had never been aware of it before. Often a trifle illuminates a life, as a search-light brings some distant place from the darkness into a fierce radiance that makes it seem near. So it was now.