"Where's the use?" returned Hamish. "He cannot help me just now; he is
straitened enough himself."

"He might help you with advice. His experience is larger than yours,
his judgment better. 'In the multitude of counsellors there is safety,'
you know, Hamish."

"I have made up my mind to say nothing to my father. If he could assist
me, I would disclose all to him: as it is, it would only be inflicting
upon him unnecessary pain. Understand, Arthur, what I have said to you
is in confidence: you must not speak of it to him."

"Of course not. I should not think of interfering between you and him.
I wish I could help you!"

"I wish you could, old fellow. But you need not look so serious."

"How you can be so gay and careless over it, I cannot imagine," said
Arthur.

Hamish laughed. "If there's only a little patch of sunshine as large as
a man's hand, I am sure to see it and trust to it."

"Is there any sunshine in this?"

"A little bit: and I hope it will help me out of it. I am sure I was
born with a large share of hope in my composition."

"Show me the bit of sunshine, Hamish."