to have gained her point, readily
acceded, and Ringfield at once withdrew, fortunately without meeting
anyone on the stairs or verandah. And now once more for him prospects
were partly fair. Pauline's denial satisfied him; easily deceived on
such a score, he knew nothing of intermediate stages of unlicensed and
unsanctified affection. In his opinion women were either good or bad,
married or unmarried, and to find this coveted one free was enough.
The problem was how to manage the future; whether he would ever be in a
position to marry, for it had come to that, and whether Miss Clairville
would consent to leave the stage; as far as he was concerned the sooner
the better.

CHAPTER X

THE PICNIC

".... The charm
Of pious sentiment diffused afar
And human charity and social love."

There is an idea which prevails among many thoughtful people, but which
is nevertheless a good deal of a fallacy, that in the complex and
congested life of cities greater opportunities for observation of
character can be found than in the country. Ringfield, for example,
would have combated this idea, feeling that he might have left college
and taken up his work in some large Western town, preaching every
Sunday to a numerous and flourishing congregation, and continued thus
for several years without encountering the strongly marked types he had
met within a few weeks at St. Ignace. It may be said in general of
life in cities of the new world that dwellers in such populous centres
are apt to undergo considerable change of character; their natural
traits become altered or turned aside, dissimulation and caution are
engendered by force of circumstances, while conformity to usage and
imitation enter largely into daily conduct. Thus, environment becomes
stronger than heredity; respectability at least is demanded,
individualities disappear, and the natural man is outwardly vanquished.
In the village, family failings, vices and virtues remain on
exhibition, as it were, for years, known to all about. The blend here
and there is recognized; individuals are often remarkable for
peculiarities or defects of moral and physical construction, and
heredity is strong. The simplicity of surrounding life supplies an
impressive background for the elemental passions which reveal
themselves in primitive or aboriginal force. Absence of standards,
absence of amusements, the lack of contrast, these are a few of the
causes that cont