Thirty-oneyearsatthedesk！Andtoshowforitahomeforhiswifeandhimself，adaughterinahomeofherown，asondeadforhiscountry，leavingbehindhimawifeandtwoladstocarrythename——wasitworthwhile？Yes，byJove，itwasworthitalltobeabletogiveamanlikeStephenWickestohiscountry。ForStephenWickeswasafinestalwartlad，agoodsoldier，steadyasarock，withapatient，cheerycouragethatnothingcoulddauntorbreak。
Butforaman’sselfwasitworthwhile？
Jackhadnothoughtofwifeandfamily。TherewasAdrien。Shehadbeenagreatpalbeforethewar，butsincehisreturnshehadseemeddifferent。Everyoneseemeddifferent。Thewarhadleftmanygaps，formerpalshadformedotherties，manyhadgonefromthetown。EvenAdrienhaddriftedawayfromtheoldcurrentsoflife。SheseemedtohavetakenupwithyoungStillwell，whomJackcouldn’tabide。StillwellhadbeenturneddownbytheRecruitingOfficerduringthewar——flatfeet，orsomething。True，hehaddonegreatserviceinRedCross，PatrioticFund，VictoryLoanwork，andthatsortofthing，andapparentlystoodhighintheCommunity。
Hisfatherhaddoubledthesizeofhisstoreandhadbeenagreatforceinallpublicwarwork。Hehadsparedneitherhimselfnorhisson。TheelderStillwell，highupintheProvincialPoliticalworld，sawtoitthathissonwasonallthebigProvincialWarCommittees。Ruperthadalltheshrewdforesightandbusinessabilityofhisfather，whichwassayingagooddeal。Hebegantoassumetheroleofapromisingyoungcapitalist。Thesourcesofhisincomenooneknew——fortunateinvestments，peoplesaid。AndhisHudsonSixstoodattheRectorygateeveryday。Well，notevenforAdrienwouldJackhavechangedplaceswithRupertStillwell。
ForJackMaitlandheldtheextremeand，incertaincircles，unpopularcreedthatthecitizenwhocamericheroutofawarwhichhadlefthiscountrysubmergedindebt，andwhichhaddrainedawayitsbestbloodandleftitpoorerinitsmanhoodbywell-nighseventythousandofitsnoblestyouthleftuponthebattlefieldsofthevariouswarfrontsandbythehundredsofthousandswhowouldgothroughlifeaburdentothemselvesandtothosetowhomtheyshouldhavebeenasupport——thatcitizenwasaccursed。IfAdrienchosetobeafriendofsuchaman，bythatchoicesheclassifiedherselfasimpossibleoffriendshipforJack。Ithadhurtabit。