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ooking at him and loving him more deeply than he had ever done before。
〃I will take him away from all this；〃 was his thought； 〃these Thurstons and allout of all this 。 。 。 We'll go off abroad somewhere。 And I'll make him fat and happy。〃
Then his father suddenly woke up； with a start and a cry： 〃Where am I？〃 。 。 。 Then he suddenly saw Martin。 〃Martin；〃 he said； smiling。
Martin smiled back and then began at once： 〃Father； this isn't true about Thurston； is it？〃
He saw； as he had often done before； that his father had to call himself up from some world of vision before he could realise even his surroundings。 Martin he recognised intuitively with the recognition of the spirit； but he seemed to take in the details of the room slowly； one by one； as though blinded by the light。
〃AhI've been dreaming；〃 he said； still smiling at Martin helplessly and almost timidly。 〃I'm so tired these dayssuddenlyI usen't to be 。 。 。〃 He put his hand to his forehead； then laid it on Martin's knee； and the strength and warmth of that seemed suddenly to fill him with vigour。
〃You're never tired； are you？〃 he asked as a child might ask an elder。
〃Very seldom；〃 answered Martin； 〃I say； father； what is all this about Thurston？〃
〃Thurston 。 。 。 Why； what's he been doing？〃
〃He says he's engaged to Amy。〃 The disgust of the idea made Martin's words； against his will； sharp and angry。
〃Does he？ 。 。 。 Yes； I remember。 He spoke to me about it。〃
〃Of course it's simply his infernal cheek 。 。 。〃
Mr。 Warlock sighed。 〃I don't know； I'm sure。 Amy seemed to wish it。〃
Martin felt then more strongly than before the Something that drove him。 It said to him： 〃Now； then 。 。 。 here's a thing for you to make a row abouta big row。 And then you can go off with Maggie。〃 But； on the other hand； there was Something that said： 〃Don't hurt him。 Don't hurt him。 You may regret it all your life if 。 。 。〃
If what？ He didn't know。 He was always threatened with regretting things all his life。 The blow was always going to fall。 And that pleasant very British phrase came back to him； 〃He would put his foot down〃howeverhe was very angryvery angry。
He burst out： 〃Oh； but that's absurd； father。 Impossibleutterly。 Thurston in the family？ Why； you must see yourself how monstrous it would be。 Amy's got some silly； sentimental whim and she's got to be told that it won't do。 If you ask me； I don't think Amy's improved much since I was away。 But that's not the question。 The idea of Thurston's disgusting。 You can't seriously consider it for a minute 。 。 。〃
〃Why is Thurston disgusting； my boy？〃
Martin hated to be called 〃my boy〃it made him feel so young and dependent。
〃You've only got to look at him！〃 Martin jumped up； disregarding his father's hand； and began to stamp about the room。 〃He's a cadhe's not your friend； father。 He isn't； really。 He'd like to out you from the whole thing if he could。 He thinks you're old…fashioned and behind the times； and all he thinks about is bringing in subscriptions and collecting new converts。 He's like one of those men who beat drums outside tents in a fair 。 。 。 He's a sickening man！ He doesn't believe in his religion or anything else。 I should think he's crooked about money； and immoral probably too。 You're much too innocent； father。 You're so good and trustful yourself that you don't know how these fellows are doing you in。 There's a regular plot against you and they'd be most awfully pleased if you were to retire。 They're not genuine like you。 They simply use the Chapel for self…advertisement and making money。 Of course there are some genuine ones like the Miss Cardinals； but Thurston's an absolute swindler 。 。 。〃
He stopped short at that。 He had said more than he had intended and he was frightened suddenly。 He swung round on his heel and looked at his father。
〃Come here； Martin。〃 He came across the room。 〃Closer。 Now； tell me。 We're good friends； aren't we？〃
〃Of course； father。〃
He put his hand on his son's shoulder。 〃Do you know that I love you more than anything in the whole world？ More； I'm sometimes terribly afraid； than God Himself。 I can't help myself。 I love you； Martin； so that it's like hunger or thirst 。 。 。 It's the only earthly passion that I've ever had。 And I'll tell you another thing。 It's the one terror of my earthly life that you'll leave me。 Now that I've got you back I'm afraid every time you go out of the house that you'll run away； round the corner； and never come back again。 I love you and I'm not going to let you go again。Not untiluntilthe Time has come 。 。 。 What does it matter to you and me what Thurston and Amy do？ God will come and He will find us both togetheryou and Iand He will take us up and keep us together and we shall never be separated any more 。 。 。 I love your strength； Martin； your happiness； your youthall the things I've never had。 And you're not going to leave me； not though Amy married a hundred Thurstons 。 。 。〃
Mr。 Warlock's grip on his son's shoulder was iron。
Martin bent down and sat on the arm of his dusty leather chair to bring himself on to the same level。 He put his arm round his father and drew him close to him。 Maggie； Life； Money； Adventure everything seemed to draw away from him and he saw himself； a little boy； pattering on bare feet down the aisle towards the fontjust as though a spell had been cast over him。
They sat close together in silence。 Then slowly the thought of Thurston came back again。 Martin drew away a little。
〃All the same； father；〃 he said； 〃Thurston mustn't marry Amy。〃
〃They're only engaged。 There's no question of marriage yet。〃
〃Then they are engaged？〃 Martin drew right away； standing up again。
〃Oh； yes； they're engaged。〃
〃Then I'm not going to stand it。 I tell you I won't stay here if Thurston marries Amy。〃
Mr。 Warlock sighed。 〃Well then； let's leave it； my boy。 I daresay they'll never marry。〃
〃No。 I won't have it。 It's too serious to leave。〃
His father's voice was sharper suddenly。
〃Well； we won't talk about it just now； Martin； if you don't mind。〃
〃But I must。 You can't leave a thing like that。 Thurston will simply own the place 。 。 。〃
〃I tell you； Martin； to leave it alone。〃 They were both angry now。
〃And I tell you； father； that if you let Thurston marry Amy I leave the house and never come back again。〃
〃Isn't that rather selfish of you？ You've been away all these years。 You've left us to ourselves。 You come back suddenly without seeing how we live or caring and then you dictate to us what we're to do。 How can you expect us to listen？〃
〃And how can you expect me to stay？〃 Martin broke into a torrent of words： 〃I'm miserable here and you know that I am。 Mother and Amy hate me and you're always wrapped up in your religion。 What kind of a place is it for a fellow？ I came back meaning that you and I should be the best pals father and son have ever been； but you wouldn't come out with meyou only wanted to drag me in。 You tell me always to wait for something。 To wait for what？ I don't know。 And nobody here does seem to know。 And I can't wait for ever。 I've got to lead my own life and if you won't come with me I must go off by myself〃
He was following his own ideas nownot lookin