Page:Steadfast Heart.djvu/183

 What have I accomplished? I’m stepping along toward fifty, Mr. Woodhouse, and the sum total of my victories is that I’ve kept a one-horse paper out of bankruptcy for twenty years.”

“The sum total of your victories, Wilkins, is that you have lived a life which has gained you many friends—and the respect of your enemies.”

Dave laughed shortly. “That’s like saying that a man’s life has been a success because he had the longest funeral procession ever seen in town…. The world seems to have wagged pretty efficiently without my editorial advice, anyhow…. But then, I’ve had a substitute.” His eyes glowed.

“I’m marveling at Angus,” said Mr. Woodhouse reflectively. “Do you remember when I first saw him? I confess I was dubious. He hadn’t the look of workable raw material.”

“It was always there…. Didn’t I tell you he couldn’t have so much skull behind his ears for nothing?… I’ve laid upstairs and tried to imagine what it must have meant to him to come back to Rainbow—to face Rainbow…. There are different sorts of heroism, Mr. Woodhouse—and some sorts are about as good as others…. How have the folks treated him?”

“So far,” said Mr. Woodhouse, “more as a curiosity than as a menace…. But it hasn’t been easy for him. Rainbow resents him. When