Two Years Ago, Volume II

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Charles Kingsley. Two Years Ago, Volume II

CHAPTER XV. THE CRUISE OF THE WATERWITCH

CHAPTER XVI. COME AT LAST

CHAPTER XVII. BAALZEBUB'S BANQUET

CHAPTER XVIII. THE BLACK HOUND

CHAPTER XIX. BEDDGELERT

CHAPTER XX. BOTH SIDES OF THE MOON AT ONCE

CHAPTER XXI. NATURE'S MELODRAMA

CHAPTER XXII. FOND, YET NOT FOOLISH

CHAPTER XXIII. THE BROAD STONE OF HONOUR

CHAPTER XXIV. THE THIRTIETH OF SEPTEMBER

CHAPTER XXV. THE BANKER AND HIS DAUGHTER

CHAPTER XXVI. TOO LATE

CHAPTER XXVII. A RECENT EXPLOSION IN AN ANCIENT CRATER

CHAPTER XXVIII. LAST CHRISTMAS EVE

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Now, as if in all things Tom Thurnall and John Briggs were fated to take opposite sides, Campbell lost ground with Elsley as fast as he gained it with Thurnall. Elsley had never forgiven himself for his passion that first morning. He had shown Campbell his weak side, and feared and disliked him accordingly. Beside, what might not Thurnall have told Campbell about him? And what use might not the Major make of his secret? Besides, Elsley's dread and suspicion increased rapidly when he discovered that Campbell was one of those men who live on terms of peculiar intimacy with many women; whether for his own good or not, still for the good of the women concerned. For only by honest purity, and moral courage superior to that of the many, is that dangerous post earned; and women will listen to the man who will tell them the truth, however sternly; and will bow, as before a guardian angel, to the strong insight of him whom they have once learned to trust. But it is a dangerous office, after all, for layman as well as for priest, that of father-confessor. The experience of centuries has shown that they must needs exist, wherever fathers neglect their daughters, husbands their wives; wherever the average of the women cannot respect the average of the men. But the experience of centuries should likewise have taught men, that the said father-confessors are no objects of envy; that their temptations to become spiritual coxcombs (the worst species of all coxcombs), if not intriguers, bullies, and worse, are so extreme, that the soul which is proof against them must be either very great, or very small indeed. Whether Campbell was altogether proof, will be seen hereafter. But one day Elsley found out that such was Campbell's influence, and did not love him the more for the discovery.

They were walking round the garden after dinner; Scoutbush was licking his foolish lips over some commonplace tale of scandal.

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"But will you not want your rooms yourself, Lord Scoutbush?" said Elsley.

"My dear fellow, never mind me. I shall go across the country, I think, see an old friend, and get some otter-hunting. Don't think of me, till you're there, and then send the yacht back for me. She must be doing something, you know; and the men are only getting drunk every day here. Come—no arguing about it, or I shall turn you all out of doors into the lane, eh?"

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