Gathered In by Catherine Helen Spence — Read

To Harry in private confidential conversation, Kenneth poured out, not the personal talk which his friend expected, and which he longed to hear, but all sorts of things only ideally connected with the circumstances in which he had been placed. He began to discuss science, philosophy, literature, art, criticism; he recalled for Harry's edification, the talk with Edith which had been arrested by the stormy scene at Mrs. Browning's grave, and he brought up some questions of casuistry arising out of the circumstances in which he had been placed without detailing or defining these circumstances.

"I am no Doctor Dubitantium," Harry interrupted him with, "put no conscience questions to me. I need enlightenment sorely myself. After fighting with my difficulties so long I fear I must cave in at last. You seem to have come pretty straight out of the troubles which I saw before you, and out of other troubles which I could not see. But then, as I always said, you were the round man, and no squareness of your hole could affect you as my round hole presses on all the angles of my nature. You were always such a pleasant fellow, Kenneth, and ready with another thing if one failed, and you went up to your difficulties differently from what I could do. I never could have won on that uncultivated uncle or that idiotic aunt of yours, as you have done, or had the patience with the son and heir, or thrown aside my books and taken to sheep with the goodwill you have shown. I know it was an awful pull once, and how did you get over it?"