"It certainly is a sign of great weakness to care too much," said Malling. "But some people have a quite peculiar power of impressing their critical thoughts on others. These spread uneasiness around them like an atmosphere."
"I know, I know," said the rector, with an almost hungry eagerness. "Now surely one ought to keep out of such an atmosphere, to get out of it, and to keep out of it."
"Why not?"
"But—but—how extraordinary it is, the difficulty men have in getting away from things! Haven't you noticed that?"
"Want of moral strength," said Mailing, laconically.
"You think so?"
"Don't you?"
At this moment there was a knock at the door. Mr. Harding started.
"How impossible it is to get a quiet moment," he said with acute irritation. "Come in!" he called out.
The footman appeared.