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camp conversation was making with his reputation。
He could not help； however； understanding that in some way he had lost caste with the regiment： but he serenely attributed this to mean…spirited jealousy of the superior advantages he was enjoying； and it only made him more anxious for the coming of the time when he could 〃cut the whole mob of beggars；〃 as Ned Burnleigh phrased it。〃
A few days more would end the regiment's term of service； and he readily obtained permission to return him in advance。
The first real blow his confidence received was when he walked down the one principal street of Sardis； and was forced to a perception of the fact that there was an absence of that effusive warmth with which the Sardis people had ever before welcomed back their young townsman； of whose good looks and gentlemanliness they had always been proud。 Now people looked at him in a curious way。 They turned to whisper to each other； with sarcastic smiles and knowing winks； as he came into view； and they did not come forward to offer him their hands as of old。 It astonished him that nobody alluded to the company or to anything that had happened to it。
Turning at length from the main street； he entered the lateral one leading to his home。 As he did so； he heard one boy call out to another in that piercing treble which boys employ in making their confidential communications to one another； across a street；
〃S…a…y…； did you know that Hank Glen 'd got back？ and they say he looks pale yet？〃
〃Has he？〃 the reply came in high falsetto； palpably tinged with that fine scorn of a healthy boy； for anything which does not exactly square with his young highness's ideas。 〃Come back to mammy； eh？ Well； it's a pity she ever let him go away from her。 Hope she'll keep him with her now。 He don't seem to do well out of reach of her apron strings。〃
The whole truth flashed upon him： Envious ones had slandered him at home； as a coward。
He walked onward in a flurry of rage。 The thought that he had done anything to deserve criticism could not obtrude itself between the joints of his triple…plated armor of self…esteem。
A swelling contempt for his village critics flushed his heart。
〃Spiteful； little…minded country boobies；〃 he said to himself with an impatient shake of his head； as if to adjust his hair； which was his usual sign of excitement； 〃they've always hated me because I was above them。 They take advantage of the least opportunity to show their mean jealousy。〃
After a moment's pause： 〃But I don't care。 I'd a little rather have their dislike than their good…will。 It'll save me a world of trouble in being polite to a lot of curs that I despise。 I'm going to leave this dull little burg anyhow； as soon as I can get away。 I'm going to Cincinnati； and be with Ned Burnleigh。 There is more life there in a day than here in a year。 After all； there's nobody here that I care anything for； except father and motherandRachel。〃
A new train of thought introduced itself at this tardy remembrance of his betrothed。 His heat abated。 He stopped； and leaning against a shady silver maple began anew a meditation that had occupied his mind very frequently since that memorable night under the old apple tree on the hill…top。
There had been for him but little of that spiritual exaltation which made that night the one supreme one in Rachel's existence； when the rapture of gratified pride and love blended with the radiant moonlight and the subtle fragrance of the flowers into a sweet symphony that would well chord with the song the stars sang together in the morning。
He was denied the pleasure that comes from success； after harrowing doubts and fears。 His unfailing consciousness of his own worth had left him little doubt that a favorable answer would promptly follow when he chose to propose to Rachel Bond； or to any other girl； and when this came with the anticipated readiness； he could not help in the midst of his gratification at her assent the intrusion of the disagreeable suspicion that； peradventure； he had not done the best with his personal wares that he might。 Possibly there would appear in time some other girl； whom he might prefer to Rachel； and at all events there was no necessity for his committing himself when he did； for Rachel 〃would have kept；〃 as Ned Burnleigh coarsely put it； when made the recipient of Harry's confidence。
Three months of companionship with Ned Burnleigh； and daily imbibation of that young man's stories of his wonderful conquests among young women of peerless beauty and exalted social station confirmed this feeling； and led him to wish for at least such slackening of the betrothal tether as would permit excursions into a charmed realm like that where Ned reigned supreme。
For the thousandth timeand in each recurrence becoming a little clearer defined and more urgentcame the question：
〃Shall I break with Rachel？ How can I？ And what possible excuse can I assign for it？〃
There came no answer to this save the spurs with which base self…love was pricking the sides of his intent； and he recoiled from itashamed of himself； it is true； but less ashamed at each renewed consideration of the query。
He hastened home that he might receive a greeting that would efface the memory of the reception he had met with in the street。 There； at least； he would be regarded as a hero； returning laurel…crowned from the conflict。
As he entered the door his father； tall； spare and iron…gray； laid down the paper he was reading； and with a noticeable lowering of the temperature of his wonted calm but earnest cordiality； said simply：
〃How do you do？ When did you get in？〃
〃Very well； and on the 10：30 train。〃
〃Did all your company come？〃
Harry winced； for there was something in his father's manner； more than his words； expressive of strong disapproval。 He answered：
〃No； I was unwell。 The water and the exposure disagreed with me； and I was allowed to come on in advance。〃
Mr。 Glen； the elder； carefully folded the paper he was reading and laid it on the stand； as if its presence would embarrass him in what he was about to say。 He took off his eye…glasses； wiped them deliberately； closed them up and hesitated for a moment； holding them between the thumb and fore finger of one hand； before placing them in their case； which he had taken from his pocket with the other。
These were all gestures with which experience had made Harry painfully familiar。 He used to describe them to his boy intimates as 〃the Governor clearing for action。〃 There was something very disagreeable coming； and he awaited it apprehensively。
〃Were you〃the father's cold； searching eyes rested for an instant on the glasses in his hand； and then were fixed on his son's face〃were you too ill the day of the fight to accompany your command？〃
Harry's glance quailed under the penetrating scrutiny； as was his custom when his father subjected him to a relentless catechism； then he summoned assurance and assumed anger。
〃Father；〃 he said； 〃I certainly did not expect that you would join these mean…spirited curs in their abuse of me； but now I see that…〃
〃Henry； you evade the question。〃 The calm eyes took on a steely hardness。 〃You certainly know by this time that I always require direct answers to my questions。 Now the point is this： You entered this company to be its leader； and to share all its duties with it。 It went into a fight while you remained back in camp。 Why was this so？ Were you too sick to accompany it？〃
〃I certainly was not feeling well。〃
〃Were you too ill to go along with your company？〃
andtherewassomeworkincamp thatneededtobedoneand there was enough without me； andII〃
〃That is sufficient；〃 said the elder man with a look of scorn that presently changed into one of deeply wounded pride。 〃Henry； I know too well your disposition to shirk the unpleasant duties of life； to be much surprised that； when tried by this test； you were found wanting。 But this wounds me deeply。 People in Sardis think my disposition hard and exacting； they think I care for little except to get all that is due me。 But no man here can say that in all his long life Robert Glen shirked or evaded a single duty that he owed to the community or his fellow…men； no matter how dangerous or disagreeable that duty might be。 To have you fail in this respect and to take and maintain your place in the front rank with other men is a terrible blow to my pride。〃
〃O； Harry； is that you？〃 said his mother； coming into the room at that moment and throwing herself into her son's arms。 〃I was lying down when I heard your voice； and I dressed and hurried down as quickly as possible。 I am so glad that you have come home all safe and well。 I know that you'll contradict； for your poor mother's sake； all these horrible stories that are worrying her almost to death。〃
〃Unfortunately he has just admitted that those stories are substantially true；〃 said the father curtly。
〃I won't believe it；〃 sobbed his mother； 〃until he tells me so himself。 You didn't； did you； back out of a fight； and let that Bob Bennett； whose mother used to be my sewing girl； and whom I supported for months after he was born； and his father died with the cholera and left