“You don't mean at common labor?”
“Yes. Why not? I have a real gift for it. And I'm very strong.”
“That would mean putting yourself with yellow coolies. The whites wouldn't like it; probably they wouldn't let you. And you have a brain. You're a trained executive.”
“I won't take a small mental job. A large one—-that would really keep me busy—yes. But there'll be no chance of that at first. And I must be fully occupied. I want to be outdoors. I may take up some branch of engineering, by way of private study. But at the moment I really don't care....” He smiled, in the dark. Brachey felt the smile in his voice when he spoke again. “I was forty-five years old this spring, Brachey. That's young, really. I have this great physical strength. And I'm free. If I have sinned, I have really no bad habits. I probably shan't be happy long without slipping my shoulders under some new burden—a good heavy one. But don't you see how interesting it will be to start new, at nothing, with nothing? What an adventure?”
“It won't be with nothing, quite. There's your experience, your mental equipment. With that, and health, and a little luck you can do anything.”
“Yes,” said Doane, “it is, after all, a clean start. I've been terribly shaken.”
“So have I,” said Brachey gently. “And I'm starting new, too.” He rose; stood for a moment quietly thinking; then turned and extended his hand. “Mr. Doane, here we are, meeting at life's crossroads. You're starting out on something pretty like my old road, and I'm starting on a road not altogether unlike yours. The next few years are going to mean everything to each of us. And what we both do with our lives is going to mean everything to Betty. Let's, between us, make Betty happy.” His voice was a little out of control, but he went resolutely on. “Let's, between us, help her to grow—enrich her life all we can—give her every chance to develop into the woman your daughter has a right to become!”
Doane sprang up; stood over him; enveloped his hand in a huge fist and nearly crushed it.
4
The Reverend Henry Withery came in that night, on a shaggy Manchu pony, with his luggage behind on a cart. And late the following afternoon a wedding took place at the residence. A great event was made of it by the young people of the compound. The hills were searched for flowers. A surprising array of presents appeared. Mrs. Boatwright was prevented from attending by a severe headache, but her husband, at the last moment, came. The other T'ainan folk were there. His Excellency, Pao Ting Chuan, with fifteen attendant mandarins, in full official costume, among whom was Mr. Po Sui-an, lent the color of Oriental splendor to the occasion. His Excellency's gift was a necklace of jade with a pendant of ancient worked gold. Withery performed the ceremony; and Griggsby Doane gave the bride.