H. B. Marriott Watson

“ When Belton entered the studio, he found his friend seated in a chair before the big easel. Willis had made his reputation by romantic colour; he was regarded as a new Monticelli, and his pictures had commanded a steady sale at moderate prices. Belton, himself a portrait painter, had an appreciation of his friend's work. He was a frank critic, but a frank admirer also, and he had a tempestuous way with him. When he came in, it was like the inrush of a fresh wind.
"Half an hour en route, old man," he said. "I haven't been here for a year. How goes it? What have you got? ”

“ Marian, of course, might marry. But he was one of those who have fought fiercely for the principle that marriage for women must never be a livelihood, but a sacred tie of affection. Marian had been heart-whole always, and that was not a counter in the game. ”

“ You will always have your sight, though deteriorated. I should take a cheerful view of it, Mr. Willis. It might have been so much worse."
Worse! Yes, it might have been worse, Willis admitted, as he returned home. He might have been condemned to absolute blindness. He shuddered. It wasn't so bad as that, so far as the verdict went, but the practical results were identical. He would have to abandon painting; that was the prime fact to face. And with that enforced surrender went his means of livelihood. If be had been condemned to blindness, he would not have consented to live. ”

“ Some bearers set down a stretcher near him, and the occupant wriggled over. He was a young man of five-and- twenty, fair-haired and blue-eyed. Both arms and one leg were missing.
Willis drew in his breath with an intake of dread and pity. The wounded man said something hoarsely, and the young doctor bent over and set a cigarette between his lips and lighted it. The armless youth drew in the smoke with satisfaction. He looked at Willis, and Willis was amazed to see him wink at him. Good Heavens! ”

“ Willis insisted, and, bustling about the studio, he disturbed the stolid equanimity of the black cat, which rose, stretched himself, and moved silently away in disgust.
"Marian," said her father softly, "you will be glad to hear that Paul need not go. He shall live out his life and be cared for." ”

“ He had large premiums to pay—premiums out of proportion to his income. That liability must now be faced. How was he to contrive to pay? How was that drain upon his resources to be met when his resources were even now in process or exhaustion?
The remnant of the afternoon passed for him in a mist of pain and trouble. He was hardly aware that he was before the fire, and that the big black cat, showing the infirmities of age, had stolen in from the dining-room and was curled up on a rug. ”

“ There was only one way—the release of the insurance benefits.
He came up to that idea as he had come up to it in fancy before, but now the atmosphere about him was different. He breathed of it heavily, and his heart was lead. Had it come to that?
Once more he made calculations carefully, as one on whom a grave obligation is laid. The sum for which he was insured was sufficient to discharge all his debts and leave a considerable margin for Marian. He estimated that she would have one hundred pounds a year in the event of his death. As he studied the figures, he grew more cheerful ”

“ They came from the ambulances before the doors of what looked like a hospital. Someone was speaking to him.
"Be as careful as you can, and don't stumble. This is a special case."
Mechanically Willis took hold of the handle, and the stretcher-bearers slowly mounted the steps and entered the hospital doors. They passed down a passage into a ward, and came to a halt. The ward was a blaze of light.
The man on the stretcher was looking up, and he caught Willis's eye, and grinned weakly. Willis smiled back and turned away. The young man who had requisitioned his services was by him. ”

“ There is a quite painless means, and I think it must be used." He straightened himself suddenly and smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry. We won't decide yet; in fact, nothing shall be done without your consent." ”