ty that he should have hidden so long his
strongest claim to sympathy.

"I could have been young," he answered. "And that stiff fool can't." He
squeezed my hand to very pain before he dropped it. "A great woman and a
good fellow--well, in this hole it's something to have met! As for the
rest of them--the fate of Laodicea, I think!"

"You're so wrong, you know."

"Yes? As usual? In the end I shall certainly be stamped out!" He shook
his head with a whimsically humorous gravity. "Part of the objection to
me is simply because I'm so large."

That was actually true when I came to think of it. His size seemed an
oppression--a perpetual threat--in itself a form of bullying. Small men
could have said the things he did with only half the offense; the other
half lay in his physical security.

"Try to counteract that by improving your manners," I said, smiling at
him in a friendly amusement.

"Let the grizzly bear put on silk knee-breeches--wouldn't he look
elegant? Good-by, Austin. Take care of her!"

"Since you say that again--you know I would--with my life."

"And I--to my death. And I seem to die to-day."

There was nothing to be said to that. We walked out into the open air
together. I rejoiced that he was going, and yet was sad. Something of
what Jenny felt was upon me then--the interest of him, the challenge to
try and to discover, the greatness of the effort to influence, the
audacity of the notion of ruling. The danger of him--and his bulk! A
Dark Continent he seemed in himself! I could not but be sorry that my
little ship was now to lose sight of the coasts of it. But there was a
nobler craft--almost driven on to its rocks, still tossing in its
breakers. For her a fair wind off land and an open sea!

As we stood before my door, I awaiting Octon's departure, he perhaps
loath to look his last on a scene which must carry for him such
significance, I saw Lacey coming toward me on horseback. He beckoned to
me in token that he wanted me.

"Ah, an opportunity for another good-by!" said Octon grimly.

Lacey brought his horse to a stand by us, but did not dismount.

"I'm trespassing, I'm afraid, Lord Lacey! My being in this park is
against the law, isn't it?"

Octon's opening was not very conciliatory, but Lacey's good-humor was
proof against him. Moreover the lad looked preoccupied.

"I'm not out for a row to-day, Mr. Octon," he said. "I want just one
word with you, Austin."

"Then I'll be off," said Octon.