Thirty-oneyearsatthedesk！Andtoshowforitahomeforhiswifeandhimself，adaughterinahomeofherown，asondeadforhiscountry，leavingbehindhimawifeandtwoladstocarrythename——wasitworthwhile？Yes，byJove，itwasworthitalltobeabletogiveamanlikeStephenWickestohiscountry。ForStephenWickeswasafinestalwartlad，agoodsoldier，steadyasarock，withapatient，cheerycouragethatnothingcoulddauntorbreak。
Butforaman’sselfwasitworthwhile？
Jackhadnothoughtofwifeandfamily。TherewasAdrien。Shehadbeenagreatpalbeforethewar，butsincehisreturnshehadseemeddifferent。Everyoneseemeddifferent。Thewarhadleftmanygaps，formerpalshadformedotherties，manyhadgonefromthetown。EvenAdrienhaddriftedawayfromtheoldcurrentsoflife。SheseemedtohavetakenupwithyoungStillwell，whomJackcouldn’tabide。StillwellhadbeenturneddownbytheRecruitingOfficerduringthewar——flatfeet，orsomething。True，hehaddonegreatserviceinRedCross，PatrioticFund，VictoryLoanwork，andthatsortofthing，andapparentlystoodhighintheCommunity。
Hisfatherhaddoubledthesizeofhisstoreandhadbeenagreatforceinallpublicwarwork。Hehadsparedneitherhimselfnorhisson。TheelderStillwell，highupintheProvincialPoliticalworld，sawtoitthathissonwasonallthebigProvincialWarCommittees。Ruperthadalltheshrewdforesightandbusinessabilityofhisfather，whichwassayingagooddeal。Hebegantoassumetheroleofapromisingyoungcapitalist。Thesourcesofhisincomenooneknew——fortunateinvestments，peoplesaid。AndhisHudsonSixstoodattheRectorygateeveryday。Well，notevenforAdrienwouldJackhavechangedplaceswithRupertStillwell。
ForJackMaitlandheldtheextremeand，incertaincircles，unpopularcreedthatthecitizenwhocamericheroutofawarwhichhadlefthiscountrysubmergedindebt，andwhichhaddrainedawayitsbestbloodandleftitpoorerinitsmanhoodbywell-nighseventythousandofitsnoblestyouthleftuponthebattlefieldsofthevariouswarfrontsandbythehundredsofthousandswhowouldgothroughlifeaburdentothemselvesandtothosetowhomtheyshouldhavebeenasupport——thatcitizenwasaccursed。IfAdrienchosetobeafriendofsuchaman，bythatchoicesheclassifiedherselfasimpossibleoffriendshipforJack。Ithadhurtabit。
Butwhatwasonehurtmoreorlesstoonewhomthewarhadleftnumbinheartandbereftofambition？Hewasnotgoingtopityhimself。Hewasluckyindeedtohavehisbodyandnervestillsoundandwhole，buttheyneednotexpecthimtoshowanygreatkeennessinthechaseforafewmorethousandsthatwouldonlyrankhimamongthoseforwhomthewarhadnotdonesobadly。Meantime，forhisfather’ssake，who，thankGod，hadgivenhisbest，hisheart’sbestandthebestofhisbrainandofhissplendidbusinessgeniustohiscountry，hewouldcarryon，withnootherrewardthanthatofservicerendered。
Theystoodtogetherbytheopenfireinthestudy，Jackandhisfather，alikeinmanywaysyetproducingeffectsverydifferent。
Theyoungermanhadthephysicalmakeupoftheolder，thoughofaslightermould。Theyhadthesamehigh，proudlookofconsciousstrength，ofcoolfearlessnessthatnothingcouldfluster。Butthesoulthatlookedoutofthegreyeyesofthesonwasquiteanotherfromthatwhichlookedoutofthedeepblueeyesofthefather——
yet，afterall，thedifferencemaynothavebeeninessencebutonlythattheolderman’ssoulhadlearnedinlife’sexperiencetolookoutonlythroughaveil。
Thesouloftheyouthwaseager，adventurous，stillbelieving，yetwithacertainquestioningandatouchofweariness，aresultoftheaftermathofpeacefollowingthreeyearsofwar。Therewasstill，however，theout-lookingforfarhorizons，theoutreachingimagination，theHeavengivenexpectationoftheInfinite。Intheolderman’seyedweltchieflyreserve。Theveilwasalwaysthereexceptwhenhefounditwiseandusefultodrawitaside。Ifevertheinnerlightflamedforthitwaswhenthemansochose。Self-
mastery，shrewdness，power，knowledge，layinthedarkblueeyes，andallatthesoul’scommand。
Butto-nightasthefather’seyesresteduponhissonwhostoodgazingintoandthroughtheblazingfirethereweretobeseenonlyprideandwistfullove。Butasthesonturnedhiseyestowardhisfathertheveilfellandtheeyesthatansweredwerequiet，shrewd，keenandchieflykind。
Thetalkhadpassedbeyondthecommonplaceoftheday’sdoings。
Theywereamongthebigthings，thefatefulthing——LifeandItsWorth，WorkandItsWages，CreativeIndustryandItsProduct，CapitalandItsPrice，ManandHisRights。
Theywerefrankwitheachother。Thewarhaddonethatforthem。
Foreversincethenightwhenhiseighteen-year-oldboyhadwalkedintohisdenandsaid，“Father，Iameighteen，“andstoodlookingintohiseyesandwaitingforthewordthatcamestraightandunhesitating，“Iknow，boy，youaremysonandyoumustgo，forI
cannot，“eversincethatnight，whichseemednowtobelongtoanotherage，thesetwohadfacedeachotherasmen。Nowtheyweretalkingabouttheyoungman’slifework。
“Frankly，Idon’tlikeit，Dad，“saidtheson。
“Easytoseethat，Jack。“
“I’mreallysorry。I’mafraidanyonecanseeit。ButsomehowI
can’tputmuchpepintoit。“
“Why？“askedthefather，withcurtabruptness。
“Why？Well，Ihardlyknow。Somehowithardlyseemsworthwhile。
Itisnotthegrindoftheoffice，thoughthatisconsiderable。I
couldstickthat，but，afterall，what’stheuse？“
“Whatwouldyouratherdo，Jack？“enquiredhisfatherpatiently，asiftalkingtoachild。“Youtriedforthemedicalprofession，youknow，and——“
“Iknow，Iknow，youarequiterightaboutit。Youmaythinkitpurelaziness。Maybeitis，butIhardlythinkso。PerhapsIwentbacktolecturestoosoonafterthewar。Iwashardlyfit，I
guess，andthewholething，theinsidelife，theinfernalgrindoflectures，theidioticseriousmummeryoftheyoungsters，thoseblessedkidswhoshouldhavebeenspankedbytheirmothers——thewholethingsickenedmeinthreemonths。IfIhadwaitedperhapsI
mighthavedonebetteratthething。Idon’tknow——hardtotell。“
Theboypaused，lookingintothefire。
“Itwasmyfault，boy，“saidthefatherhastily。“Ioughttohavefiguredthethingoutdifferently。But，yousee，Ihadnoknowledgeofwhatyouhadgonethroughandofitseffectuponyou。
Iknowbetternow。Ithoughtthattheharderyouwentintotheworkthebetteritwouldbeforyou。Imadeamistake。“
“Well，youcouldn’ttell，Dad。Howcouldyou？ButeverythingwassodifferentwhenIcameback。Merekidswerecarryingonwherewehadbeen，anddoingitwell，too，byJove，andwedidn’tseemtobeneeded。“
“Needed，boy？“Thefather’svoicewasthick。
“Yes，butIdidn’tseethatthen。Selfish，Ifear。Then，youknow，homewasnotthesame——“
Theoldermanchokedbackagroanandleanedhardagainstthemantel。
“Iknow，Dad，IcanseenowIwasselfish——“
“Selfish？Don’tsaythat，mylad。Selfish？Afterallyouhadgonethrough？No，Ishallneverapplythatwordtoyou，butyou——
youdon’tseemtorealise——“Thefatherhesitatedafewmoments，then，asiftakingaplunge:
“Youdon’trealisejusthowbigathing——howbiganinvestmentthereisinthatbusinessdownthere。“Hishandswepttowardthewindowthroughwhichcouldbeseenthelightsofthatpartofthetownwhichclusteredaboutthevariousmillsandfactoriesofwhichhewasowner。
“Iknowthereisalot，Dad，buthowmuchIdon’tknow。“
“There’s$250，000inplantalone，boy，butthere’smorethanmoney，alotmorethanmoney——“Then，afterapause，asiftohimself，“A
lotmorethanmoney——there’sbrainsweatandheartagonyandprayersandtears——and，yes，life，boy，yourmother’slifeandmine。Weworkedandsavedandprayedandplanned——“
Hesteppedquicklytowardthewindow，drewasidethecurtainandpointedtoadarkmassofheadlandbeyondthetwinklinglights。
“YouseetheBluffthere。FiftyyearsagoIstoodwithmyfatheronthatBluffandwatchedthelogscomedowntherivertothesawmill——hissawmill，intowhichhehadputhistotalcapital，fivehundreddollars。Irememberwellhiswords，’Myson，ifyouliveoutyourlifeyouwillseeonthatflatatownwherethousandsofmenandwomenwillfindhomesand，pleaseGod，happiness。’YourmotherandIwatchedthattowngrowforfortyyears，andwetriedtomakepeoplehappy——atleast，iftheywerenotitwasnofaultofhers。Ofcourse，otherhandshavebeenattheworksincethen，butherhandsandminemorethananyother，andmorethanallotherstogetherwereinit，andherheart，too，wasinitall。“
Theboyturnedfromthewindowandsatdownheavilyinadeeparmchair，hishandscoveringhisface。HisheartwasstillsickwiththeachethathadsmittenitthatdayinfrontofAmienswhentheColonel，hisfather’sfriend，hadsentforhimandreadhimthewirewhichhadbroughttheterriblemessageofhismother’sdeath。
Thelongmonthsofdaysandnightsheavywithwatching，toiling，praying，agonising，forhertwinsons，andforthemanyboyswhohadgoneoutfromthelittletownworeouthernonetoorobuststrength。Then，thesniper’sbulletthathadpiercedtheheartofherboyseemedtoreachtoherheartaswell。Afterthat，thehomethatoncehadbeentoitsdwellersthemostcompletelyheart-
satisfyingspotinalltheworldbecameaplaceofdread，ofhauntingghosts，ofacutelypoignantmemories。Theyusedthehouseforsleepinginandforeatingin，buttherewasnolivinginitlonger。Tothemitwasatomb，thoughneitherwouldacknowledgeitandeachborewithitfortheother’ssake。
“Honestly，Dad，IwishIcouldmakeitgo，foryoursake——“
“Formysake，boy？Why，IhaveallofitIcarefor。Notformysake。Butwhatelsecanwedobutstickit？“
“Isupposeso——butforHeaven’ssakegivemesomethingworthaman’sdoing。IfIcouldtackleajobsuchasyouand“——theboywinced——“youandmothertookonIbelieveI’dtryit。Butthatoffice！Anyfoolcouldsitinmyplaceandcarryon。Itislikethejobtheyusedtogivetothecrocksortheslackersatthebasetodo。Givemeaman’sjob。“
Thefather’skeenblueeyeslookedhissonover。
“Aman’sjob？“hesaid，withagrimsmile，realisingashissondidnothowmuchofaman’sjobitwas。“SupposeyoulearnthisoneasIdid？“
“Whatdoyoumean，Dad，exactly？Howdidyoubegin？“
“I？Atthetailofthesaw。“
“Allright，I’mgame。“
“Boy，youareright——Ibelieveinmysoulyouareright。Youdidaman’sjob’outthere’andyouhaveitinyoutodoaman’sjobagain。“
Thesonshruggedhisshoulders。Nextmorningatseventheyweredownattheplaningmillwheremenweredoingmen’swork。Hewasataman’sjob，atthetailofasaw，anddrawingaman’spay，rubbingshoulderswithmenonequalterms，ashehadinthetrenches。AndforthefirsttimesinceArmisticeDay，ifnothappyorsatisfied，hewascontenttocarryon。
SamWigglesworthhadfinishedwithschool，whichisnotquitethesameassayingthathehadfinishedhiseducation。Anumberofcauseshadcombinedtobringthiseventtopass。First，SamwasbeyondtheageofcompulsoryattendanceatthePublicSchool，theSchoolRegisterrecordinghimassixteenyearsold。Then，Sam’seducationalcareerhadbeenanythingbutbrilliant。Indeed，itmightfairlybedescribedasdull。Allhislifehehadbeenbehindhisclass，thebiggestboyinhisclass，whichfactmighthavebeentoSamaconstantcauseofhumiliationhadhenotheldasoftheslightestmomentmerelyacademicachievements。OneunpleasanteffectwhichthisfacthaduponSam’smoralqualitywasthatittendedtomakehimabully。Hewasphysicallythesuperiorofallinhisclass，andthissuperiorityheexertedforwhathedeemedthedisciplineofyoungerandweakerboys，whoexcelledhiminintellectualattainment。
Furthermore，Sam，whilequitereadytoenforcethecodeofdisciplinewhichheconsideredsuitabletothesmallerandweakerboysinhisclass，resentedandresistedtheattemptsofconstitutedauthoritytoenforcedisciplineinhisowncase，withtheresultthatSam’seducationalcareerwas，aftermuchlongsuffering，abruptlyterminatedbytheactionofthelong-sufferinghead，AlexDay。
“WithgreatregretImustreport，“hislettertotheSchoolBoardran，“thatinthecaseofSamuelWigglesworthIhavesomehowfailedtoinculcatetheelementaryprinciplesofobediencetoschoolregulationsandofadherencetotruthinspeech。Iamfreetoacknowledge，“wentontheletter，“thatthedefectmaybeinmyselfasmuchasintheboy，buthavingfailedinwinninghimtoobedienceandtruth-telling，IfeelthatwhileIremainmasteroftheschoolImustdeclinetoallowtheinfluenceofthisyouthtocontinueintheschool。Awhole-heartedpenitenceforhismanyoffencesandanearnestpurposetoreformwouldinducemetogivehimafurthertrial。IntheabsenceofeitherpenitenceorpurposetoreformImustregretfullyadviseexpulsion。“
JoyfullytheSchoolBoard，whohadformonthsurgeduponthereluctantheadthisaction，acquiescedinthecoursesuggested，andSamuelwasforthwithexpelled，tohisownunmitigatedreliefbuttohisfather’sredandragingindignationatwhathetermedthe“hignorantpersecutionoftheirbettersbythesehinsolentColonials，“for“’isson’ad’adtheadvantagesofschoolsofthe’igheststandin’inHEngland。“