a young and healthy man would naturally enter on his business, he
showed rather a dogged resolution to work whether he felt like it or
not, and with harsh disregard of his physical weakness.

The world will never cease witnessing the wrongs that men commit
against each other; but perhaps if the wrongs and cruelties that
people inflict on themselves could be summed up the painful aggregate
would be much larger.

As Gregory sat bending over his writing, rather from weakness than
from a stooping habit, his senior partner came in, and was evidently
struck by the appearance of feebleness on the part of the young man.
The unpleasant impression haunted him, for having looked over his
letters he came out of his private office and again glanced uneasily
at the colorless face, which gave evidence that only sheer force of
will was spurring a failing hand and brain to their tasks.

At last Mr. Burnett came and laid his hand on his junior partner's
shoulder, saying, kindly, "Come, Gregory, drop your work. You are ill.
The strain upon you has been too long and severe. The worst is over
now, and we are going to pull through better than I expected. Don't
take the matter so bitterly to heart. I admit myself that the
operation promised well at first. You were misled, and so were we all,
by downright deception. That the swindle was imposed on us through you
was more your misfortune than your fault, and it will make you a
keener business man in the future. You have worked like a galley-slave
all summer to retrieve matters, and have taken no vacation at all. You
must take one now immediately, or you will break down altogether. Go
off to the woods; fish, hunt, follow your fancies; and the bracing
October air will make a new man of you."