"You and I stand as far apart to-day, in
some matters, Phil, as we did twenty--thirty
years ago," he said presently, "and that eldest
daughter of yours--I'm a fair hand at reading
character or I shouldn't be where I am to-day,
if I were not--is more like me than you."
"So I have come to think--lately."
"That second girl takes after you; she
would never have written that letter to me
last May."
"No, Hilary would not have at the time--"
"Oh, I can guess how you felt about it at
the time. But, look here, Phil, you've got
over that--surely? After all, I like to think
now that Pauline only hurried on the
inevitable." Mr. Paul Shaw laid his hand on the
minister's shoulder. "Nearly twenty years is
a pretty big piece out of a lifetime. I see now
how much I have been losing all these years."
"It has been a long time, Paul; and,
perhaps, I have been to blame in not trying more
persistently to heal the breach between us. I
assure you that I have regretted it daily."
"You always did have a lot more pride in
your make-up than a man of your profession
has any right to allow himself, Phil. But if
you like, I'm prepared to point out to you
right now how you can make it up to me.
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