Page:Sorrell and Son - Deeping - 1926.djvu/173

 He rather thought that the abnormality could be looked for on the Continent, and in the mental make-up of a certain sort of Continental youth who grew up to be a professor.

Desire was desire, and it could be clean, if you did not shut it up in a box till it turned musty.

He asked Christopher if he would like to leave St. Benedict's and come back to Mr. Porteous.

"No,—I'm all right there now, pater. Now—that I've had these talks. It is not being sure about things"

"Work is the cleanest of all things, the game you are playing or the job you are going to do."

"I see that in a sort of way. But I suppose one has feelings"

"Get your feelings to back up your job."

"You—and mother, pater?"

"We didn't back each other. We were after different jobs; we played the game differently. Some day—you will have to think of the job and the woman. If you can get them both—happily—into the same boat"

"Pulling together—pater? But—then—there are things,—you know."

"All sorts of things," said Sorrell; "you will have to go through with them, Kit. We all have to. But because a girl has baby eyes—and pretty curly hair. No, that's not eyeing it may be no more than your dinner or your early morning tub. It is better to be keener on your job—than on girls. It's so difficult for me to explain. But get the job before you get the girl,—the real girl—I mean."

They left it at that, but each knew that there was a shadow-land before them, and the consoling thought in the heart of each was that if they kept shoulder to shoulder—the shadow-land would pass.

Once or twice a year Sorrell packed a prosperous-looking suit-case, put on a lounge suit made for him by Toole's, and a bowler hat, and white spats, and a pair of wash-leather gloves, and took three days' holiday. He travelled first-class to Westbourne; in fact, on these occasions he made