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Whatdoyoumean?”heasked.Haveyoubeen
cashieredorshotorsomething?”
ImeanthatIwroteandresignedmycommission
yesterday,”saidMichael.Ifyouhaddinedwithmelast
night–as,bytheway,youpromisedtodo–Ishouldhave
toldyouthen.”
Francisgotupandleanedagainstthechimney-
piece.Hewasconsciousofnotthinkingthisabrupt
newsasimportantashefeltheoughttothinkit.That
wascharacteristicofhim;hefloated,asMichaelhad
latelytoldhim,findingtheworldanextremelypleasant
place,fullofwarmcurrentsthattookyougently
forwardwithoutentailingtheslightestexertion.But
Michael’sgraveandexpectantface–thatMichaelwho
hadbeensoeagerlykindaboutmeetinghisdebtsfor
him–warnedhimthat,howevergossamer-likehisown
emotionswere,hemustattempttoballasthimselfover
this.
Areyouspeakingseriously?”heasked.
Quiteseriously.Ineverdidanythingthatwas
soserious.”
Andthatiswhatyouwantmyopinionabout?”
heasked.Ifso,youmusttellmemore,Mike.Ican’t
haveanopinionunlessyougivemethereasonswhy
youdidit.Thethingitself–well,thethingitselfdoesn’t
seemtomattersoimmensely.Thesignificance
ofitiswhyyoudidit.”
Michael’sbig,heavy-browedfacelightened
amoment.Forafellowwhoneverthinks,”hesaid,you
thinkuncommonlywell.Butthereasonsareobvious
enough.Youcanguesssufficientreasonstoaccountfor
it.”
Let’shearthemanyhow,”saidFrancis.
Michaelcloudedagain.
Surelytheyareobvious,”hesaid.Nooneknows
betterthanme,unlessitisyou,thatI’mnotlikethe
restofyou.Mymindisn’tthebuildofaguardsman’s
mind,anymorethanmyunfortunatebodyis.Halfour
work,asyouknowquitewell,consistsinbeing