ing mind turned to the same problem; the last reflections of a
brain sinking to rest were likewise occupied with it. How could he win
her? Sometimes his yearning desires clamoured for any possible road to
the precious goal, and he remembered his brother's hint that a secret
existed in Will's life. At such times he wished that he knew it, and
wondered vaguely if the knowledge were of a nature to further his own
ambition. Then he blushed and thought ill of himself But this personal
accusation was unjust, for it is the property of a strong intellect
engaged about affairs of supreme importance, to suggest every possible
action and present every possible point of view by the mere mechanical
processes of thinking. The larger a brain, the more alternative courses
are offered, the more facets gleam with thought, the more numerous the
roads submitted to judgment. It is a question of intellect, not ethics.
Right actions and crooked are alike remorselessly presented, and the
Council of Perfection, which holds that to think amiss is sin, must
convict every saint of unnumbered offences. As reasonably might we blame
him who dreams murder. Departure from rectitude can only begin where
evil thought is converted into evil action, for thought alone of all
man's possessions and antecedents is free, and a lifetime of
self-control and high thinking will not shut the door against ideas.
That Martin--a man of luminous if limited intellect--should have
considered every possible line of action which might assist him to come
at the highest good life could offer was inevitable; but he missed the
reason of certain sinister notions and accused himself of baseness in
giving birth to them. Nevertheless, the idea recurred and took shape. He
associated John's assertion of a secret with another rumour that had
spread much farther afield. This concerned the parentage of little
Timothy the foundling, for it was whispered widely of late that the
child belonged to Blanchard. Of course many people knew all the facts,
were delighted to retail them, and could give the mother's name. Only
those most vitally concerned had heard nothing as yet.

These various matters were weighing not lightly on Martin's mind during
the hours of the Newtake sale; and meantime Will thundered into his
mother's cottage and roared the news. He would hear of no objection to
his wish, that one and all should straightway proceed to Monks Barton,
and he poured forth the miller's praises,