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unconscious。 Classes he knew。 Individuals escaped him。 Yet
he was a most companionable man； a social solitary； a friendly
hermit。
His daughter Dorothy seemed to me even more fair and
appealing by daylight than when I first saw her in the dusk。
There was a pure brightness in her brown eyes； a gentle
dignity in her look and bearing； a soft cadence of expectant joy
in her voice。 She was womanly in every tone and motion； yet by
no means weak or uncertain。 Mistress of herself and of the
house； she ruled her kingdom without an effort。 Busied with many
little cares； she bore them lightly。 Her spirit overflowed into
the lives around her with delicate sympathy and merry cheer。 But
it was in music that her nature found its widest outlet。 In the
lengthening evenings of late August she would play from Schumann；
or Chopin； or Grieg； interpreting the vague feelings of
gladness or grief which lie too deep for words。 Ballads she
loved； quaint old English and Scotch airs； folk…songs of
Germany； 〃Come…all…ye's〃 of Ireland； Canadian chansons。 She
sangnot like an angel； but like a woman。
Of the two under…masters in the school； Edward Keene was
the elder。 The younger； John Graham； was his opposite in
every respect。 Sturdy； fair…haired； plain in the face； he was
essentially an every…day man； devoted to out…of…door sports；
a hard worker； a good player； and a sound sleeper。 He came
back to the school； from a fishing…excursion； a few days after my
arrival。 I liked the way in which he told of his adventures；
with a little frank boasting； enough to season but not to spoil
the story。 I liked the way in which he took hold of his work；
helping to get the school in readiness for the return of the boys
in the middle of September。 I liked； more than all； his attitude
to Dorothy Ward。 He loved her； clearly enough。 When she was in
the room the other people were only accidents to him。 Yet there
was nothing of the disappointed suitor in his bearing。 He was
cheerful； natural； accepting the situation； giving her the
best he had to give； and gladly taking from her the frank
reliance； the ready comradeship which she bestowed upon him。
If he envied Keeneand how could he help itat least he
never showed a touch of jealousy or rivalry。 The engagement
was a fact which he took into account as something not to be
changed or questioned。 Keene was so much more brilliant；
interesting； attractive。 He answered so much more fully to
the poetic side of Dorothy's nature。 How could she help
preferring him？
Thus the three actors in the drama stood； when
I became an inmate of Hilltop； and accepted the master's
invitation to undertake some of the minor classes in English；
and stay on at the school indefinitely。 It was my wish to see
the little playa pleasant comedy； I hopedmove forward to
a happy ending。 And yetwhat was it that disturbed me now
and then with forebodings？ Something； doubtless； in the
character of Keene； for he was the dominant personality。 The
key of the situation lay with him。 He was the centre of
interest。 Yet he was the one who seemed not perfectly in
harmony； not quite at home； as if something beckoned and urged
him away。
〃I am glad you are to stay；〃 said he； 〃yet I wonder at it。
You will find the life narrow； after all your travels。
Ulysses at Ithacayou will surely be restless to see the
world again。〃
〃If you find the life broad enough； I ought not to be
cramped in it。〃
〃Ah； but I have compensations。〃
〃One you certainly have；〃 said I； thinking of Dorothy；
〃and that one is enough to make a man happy anywhere。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 he answered； quickly； 〃but that is not what I
mean。 It is not there that I look for a wider life。 Lovedo
you think that love broadens a man's outlook？ To me it seems
to make him narrowerhappier； perhaps； within his own little
circlebut distinctly narrower。 Knowledge is the only thing
that broadens life； sets it free from the tyranny of the
parish； fills it with the sense of power。 And love is the
opposite of knowledge。 Love is a kind of an illusiona happy
illusion； that is what love is。 Don't you see that？〃
〃See it？〃 I cried。 〃I don't know what you mean。 Do you
mean that you don't really care for Dorothy Ward？ Do you mean
that what you have won in her is an illusion？ If so； you are
as wrong as a man can be。〃
〃No； no；〃 he answered； eagerly； 〃you know I don't mean
that。 I could not live without her。 But love is not the only
reality。 There is something else； something broader；
something〃
〃Come away；〃 I said； 〃come away； man！ You are talking
nonsense； treason。 You are not true to yourself。 You've been
working too hard at your books。 There's a maggot in your brain。
Come out for a long walk。〃
That indeed was what he liked best。 He was a magnificent
walker； easy； steady； unwearying。 He knew every road and lane
in the valleys； every footpath and trail among the mountains。
But he cared little for walking in company； one companion was
the most that he could abide。 And； strange to say； it was not
Dorothy whom he chose for his most frequent comrade。 With her
he would saunter down the Black Brook path； or climb slowly to
the first ridge of Storm…King。 But with me he pushed out to
the farthest pinnacle that overhangs the river； and down
through the Lonely Heart gorge； and over the pass of the White
Horse； and up to the peak of Cro' Nest； and across the rugged
summit of Black Rock。 At every wider outlook a strange
exhilaration seemed to come upon him。 His spirit glowed like
a live coal in the wind。 He overflowed with brilliant talk
and curious stories of the villages and scattered houses that
we could see from our eyries。
But it was not with me that he made his longest expeditions。
They were solitary。 Early on Saturday he would leave the rest of
us； with some slight excuse； and start away on the mountain…road；
to be gone all day。 Sometimes he would not return till long
after dark。 Then I could see the anxious look deepen on
Dorothy's face； and she would slip away down the road to meet
him。 But he always came back in good spirits； talkable and
charming。 It was the next day that the reaction came。 The black
fit took him。 He was silent； moody； bitter。 Holding himself
aloof； yet never giving utterance to any irritation； he seemed
half…unconsciously to resent the claims of love and friendship；
as if they irked him。 There was a look in his eyes as if he
measured us； weighed us； analysed us all as strangers。
Yes； even Dorothy。 I have seen her go to meet him with a
flower in her hand that she had plucked for him； and turn away
with her lips trembling； too proud to say a word； dropping the
flower on the grass。 John Graham saw it； too。 He waited till
she was gone； then he picked up the flower and kept it。
There was nothing to take offence at； nothing on which one
could lay a finger； only these singular alternations of mood
which made Keene now the most delightful of friends； now an
intimate stranger in the circle。 The change was inexplicable。
But certainly it seemed to have some connection； as cause or
consequence； with his long； lonely walks。
Once； when