and will not be able to have it?"

"As you put it, it does seem so; but I am pugnacious enough to wish you to
see it as practically as I do. Put sentiment aside, and the only sensible
thing to be done now is to prepare him for the hard, uncushioned facts of
an active life."

"But why must it be so hard for him?"

"Why? In the face of the inevitable, that is a time-wasting, useless
question. Life is so; even if we find its underlying cause, the discovery
will not alter the fact."

"Yes, it will."

"How?"

"By its enabling us to turn our backs on the hard way and seek a softer."

"You forget that strait-jacket to all inclination, --circumstance."

"And are you not forgetting that friendly hands may help to remove the
strait-jacket?"

Her lovely face looked very winning, filled with its kindly meaning.

"Thank you," said he, raising his hat and forgetting to replace it as he
spoke; "that is a gentle truth; some day we shall discuss this further.
For the present, use your power in getting Bob upon his feet."