It was acting wisely,
then, for him to come up, manfully, to the work of drawing back his
misplaced affections, and getting them again fully into his own
possession. And he has done the work, if I read the signs aright.
All honor to his manhood!"
"He has, I see, a warm advocate in you, Doctor," said Mrs.
Montgomery, again smiling. "Still, in an affair of the heart, where
so much was involved, as seemed to be in his case, we can hardly
fancy such a matter-of-fact, business-like proceeding as you have
described. He might well have been forgiven, if he had shown more
weakness of character, and acted even a little unreasonably. I will
yield to no one in my regard for manly firmness and self-control,
for bravery and endurance; and I have seen these qualities put to
some of the severest tests. But in matters of the heart, I must own
that I like to see a man show his weakness. Your Mr. Wallingford is
too cool and calculating for me. But this is irrelevant to our
consideration of his qualities as a business agent. For this
purpose, I am satisfied that he is fitted in all things essential.
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