"I am not obliged to discuss such a matter as that," he
said hoarsely, "with you or with any man."
He looked confusedly about him for his hat, which he had
left in the hall; and Dr Drummond profited by the instant.
He stepped across and laid a hand on the younger man's
shoulder. Had they both been standing the gesture would
have been impossible to Dr Drummond with dignity; as it
was, it had not only that, but benignance, a kind of
tender good will, rare in expression with the minister,
rare, for that matter, in feeling with him too, though
the chord was always there to be sounded.
"Finlay," he said; "Finlay!"
Between two such temperaments the touch and the tone
together made an extraordinary demonstration. Finlay,
with an obvious effort, let it lie upon him. The tension
of his body relaxed, that of his soul he covered, leaning
forward and burying his head in his hands.
"Will you say I have no claim to speak?" asked Dr Drummond,
and met silence. "It is upon my lips to beg you not to
send that letter, Finlay." He took his hand from the
young man's shoulder, inserted a thumb in each of his
waistcoat pockets, and resumed his walk.
"On my own account I must send it," said Finlay. "On Miss
Murchison's--she bids me to. We have gone into the matter
together."
"I can imagine what you made of it together.
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