is previous temerity amazed
him. His own ugliness, awkwardness, and general unfitness to be the
husband of Chris were ideas now thrust upward in all honesty to the top
of his mind. No mock modesty or simulated delicacy inspired them, for
after defeat a man is frank with himself. Whatever he may have pretended
before he puts his love to the test, however he may have blinded himself
as to his real feelings and beliefs before he offers his heart, after
the event has ended unfavourably his real soul stands naked before him
and, according to his character, he decides whether himself or the girl
is the fool. Grimbal criticised his own audacity with scanty compassion
now; and the thought of the tears of Chris made him clench one hand and
smash it hard again and again into the palm of the other. No passionate
protest rose in his mind against the selfish silence of Clement Hicks;
he only saw his own blindness and magnified it into an absolute offence
against Chris. Presently, as the sunlight sank lower, and the straight
stems of the pines glimmered red-gold against the deepening gloom,
Martin retraced the scene that was past and recalled her words and
actions, her tears, the trembling of her mouth, and that gesture when
the wild flowers dropped from her hand and her fingers went up to cover
her eyes. Then a sudden desire mastered him: to possess the purple of
her bluebell bouquet. He knew she would not pick it up again when he was
gone; so he returned, stood in that theatre of Fate beneath the rowan,
saw where her body had pressed the grass, and found the fading flowers.

Then he turned to tramp home, with the truth gnawing his heart at last.
The excitement was over, all flutter of hope and fear at rest. Only that
bitter fact of failure remained, with the knowledge that one, but
yesterday so essential and so near, had now vanished like a rainbow
beyond his reach.

Martin's eyes were opened in the light of this experience. John came
into his mind, and estimating his brother's sufferings by his own, the
stricken man found room in his sad heart for pity.

CHAPTER V

THE ZEAL OF SAM BONUS

Under conditions of spring and summer Newtake Farm flattered Will's
hopes not a little. He worked like a giant, appropriated some of that
credit belonging to fine weather, and viewed the future with very
considerable tranquillity. Of beasts he purchased wisely, being guided
in that matter by Mr. Lyddon; but for the rest he was content