There was no deception on your father's part. He
told me of the dragon he fought--he told me that he hoped with God's
help and mine to conquer. And I hoped, too, Derry. I did more than
that. I was so sure of him--my King could do no wrong.
"But the day came when he went on one of those desolate pilgrimages
where you and I so often followed in later years. I am not going to
try to tell you how we fought together, Derry; how I learned with such
agony of soul that a man's will is like wax in the fire of
temptation--oh, Derry, Derry--.
"I am telling you this for more reasons than one. What your father has
been you might be. With all your ideals there may be in you some
heritage of weakness, of appetite. Wild beasts can conquer you, too,
if you let them in. And that's why I have preached and prayed. That's
why I've kept you from that which overcame your father. You are no
better, no stronger, than he was in the glory of his youth. But I have
barred the doors against the flaming dragon.
"I have no words eloquent enough to tell you of his care of me, his
consideration, his devotion. Yet nothing of all this helped in those
strange moods that came upon him.
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