"I was a fool," Thompson muttered.

"I wouldn't say that," Tommy responded gently. "A man couldn't resist

her. I've known a lot of women one way and another. I never knew one

could hold a candle to her. She has a mind like a steel trap, that girl.

She understood things in a flash, moods and all that. She'd make a real

chum, as well as a wife. Most women aren't, y'know. They're generally

just one or the other. No, I'd never call myself a fool for liking

Sophie too well. In fact a man would be a fool if he didn't.

"She likes men too," Tommy went on musingly. "She knew it. I suppose

she'll be friendly and curious and chummy, and hurt men without meaning

to until she finds the particular sort of chap she wants. Oh, well."

"How's the trapping?"

Thompson changed the subject abruptly. He could not bear to talk about

that, even to Tommy Ashe who understood out of his own experience, who

had exhibited a rare and kindly understanding.

"I've been wondering if I could make a try at that. I've got to do

something. I've quit the ministry."

Tommy looked at him for a second.

"Why did you get out?" he asked bluntly.

"I'm not fitted for it," Thompson returned. "I've been through hell for

four months, and I've lost something--some of that sublime faith that a

man must have. I'm not certain about a lot of things I have always taken

for granted. I'm not certain I have an immortal soul which is worth

saving, let alone considering myself peculiarly fitted to save other

people's souls. I'd be like a blind man leading people with good eyes.

It has come to seem to me that I've been trained for the ministry as a

carpenter is trained for his trade. I can't go on feeling like that. I'm

too much interested in my own personal salvation. I'm too keenly

conscious of a tremendous ignorance about tremendously important things

to continue setting myself up as a finger post for other men's spiritual

guidance. If I stay with the church now it seems to me it will only be

because I lack courage to get out and make my living along lines that

won't be so easy. I'd despise myself if I did that. So I've

resigned--quite a while ago, to be exact. I've been working for the H.B.

two months. That's why I asked about the trapping. I've been casting

about for what I'd best try next."

Tommy sat silent. When he did speak he touched very briefly on

Thompson's confession of faith--or rather the lack of it.

"When a man's heart isn't in a thing," said he, "it's better for him to

drop it. About the trapping, now--I don't think you'd do much at that

with the season so far along. This district is pretty well covered by

the natives. You'd get into difficulties right off the bat over setting

traps on their territory. They have a rude sort of understanding about

where their several trap lines shall run. And for some reason or other

furs are getting scarce. Up where young Lachlan and I were it was pretty

fair for awhile. We took some good skins. Lately we did a lot of

trap-tending for nothing much. I got fed up with it. Fact is, I'm about

fed up with this region. I think I'll pull out."




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