that's absurd, father. Impossible--utterly.
Thurston in the family? Why, you must see yourself how monstrous it
would be. Amy's got some silly, sentimental whim and she's got to be
told that it won't do. If you ask me, I don't think Amy's improved much
since I was away. But that's not the question. The idea of Thurston's
disgusting. You can't seriously consider it for a minute..."

"Why is Thurston disgusting, my boy?"

Martin hated to be called "my boy"--it made him feel so young and
dependent.

"You've only got to look at him!" Martin jumped up, disregarding his
father's hand, and began to stamp about the room. "He's a cad--he's not
your friend, father. He isn't, really. He'd like to out you from the
whole thing if he could. He thinks you're old-fashioned and behind the
times, and all he thinks about is bringing in subscriptions and
collecting new converts. He's like one of those men who beat drums
outside tents in a fair ... He's a sickening man! He doesn't believe in
his religion or anything else. I should think he's crooked about money,
and immoral probably too. You're much too innocent, father. You're so
good and trustful yourself that you don't know how these fellows are
doing you in. There's a regular plot against you and they'd be most
awfully pleased if you were to retire. They're not genuine like you.
They simply use the Chapel for self-advertisement and making money. Of
course there are some genuine ones like the Miss Cardinals, but
Thurston's an absolute swindler ..."

He stopped short at that. He had said more than he had intended and he
was frightened suddenly. He swung round on his heel and looked at his
father.

"Come here, Martin." He came across the room. "Closer. Now, tell me.
We're good friends, aren't we?"

"Of course, father."

He put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Do you know that I love you
more than anything in the whole world? More, I'm sometimes terribly
afraid, than God Himself. I can't help myself. I love you, Martin, so
that it's like hunger or thirst ... It's the only earthly passion that
I've ever had. And I'll tell you another thing. It's the one terror of
my earthly life that you'll leave me. Now that I've got you back I'm
afraid every time you go out of the house that you'll run away, round
the corner, and never come back again. I love you and I'm not going to
let you go again.--Not until--until--the Time has come ... What does it
matter to you and me what Thurston and Amy