He burst out: "Oh, but that's absurd, father.Impossible--utterly.
Thurston in the family? Why, you must see yourself how monstrous it would be.Amy's got some silly, sentimental whim and she's got to be told that it won't do.If you ask me, I don't think Amy's improved much since I was away.But that's not the question.The idea of Thurston's disgusting.You can't seriously consider it for a minute...""Why is Thurston disgusting, my boy?"
Martin hated to be called "my boy"--it made him feel so young and dependent.
"You've only got to look at him!" Martin jumped up, disregarding his father's hand, and began to stamp about the room."He's a cad--he's not your friend, father.He isn't, really.He'd like to out you from the whole thing if he could.He thinks you're old-fashioned and behind the times, and all he thinks about is bringing in subscriptions and collecting new converts.He's like one of those men who beat drums outside tents in a fair...He's a sickening man! He doesn't believe in his religion or anything else.I should think he's crooked about money, and immoral probably too.You're much too innocent, father.You're so good and trustful yourself that you don't know how these fellows are doing you in.There's a regular plot against you and they'd be most awfully pleased if you were to retire.They're not genuine like you.They simply use the Chapel for self-advertisement and making money.Of course there are some genuine ones like the Miss Cardinals, but Thurston's an absolute swindler..."He stopped short at that.He had said more than he had intended and he was frightened suddenly.He swung round on his heel and looked at his father.
"Come here, Martin." He came across the room."Closer.Now, tell me.
We're good friends, aren't we?"
"Of course, father."
He put his hand on his son's shoulder."Do you know that I love you more than anything in the whole world? More, I'm sometimes terribly afraid, than God Himself.I can't help myself.I love you, Martin, so that it's like hunger or thirst...It's the only earthly passion that I've ever had.And I'll tell you another thing.It's the one terror of my earthly life that you'll leave me.Now that I've got you back I'm afraid every time you go out of the house that you'll run away, round the corner, and never come back again.I love you and I'm not going to let you go again.--Not until--until--the Time has come...What does it matter to you and me what Thurston and Amy do? God will come and He will find us both together--you and I--and He will take us up and keep us together and we shall never be separated any more...I love your strength, Martin, your happiness, your youth--all the things I've never had.And you're not going to leave me, not though Amy married a hundred Thurstons..."Mr.Warlock's grip on his son's shoulder was iron.
Martin bent down and sat on the arm of his dusty leather chair to bring himself on to the same level.He put his arm round his father and drew him close to him.Maggie, Life, Money, Adventure--everything seemed to draw away from him and he saw himself, a little boy, pattering on bare feet down the aisle towards the font--just as though a spell had been cast over him.
They sat close together in silence.Then slowly the thought of Thurston came back again.Martin drew away a little.
"All the same, father," he said, "Thurston mustn't marry Amy.""They're only engaged.There's no question of marriage yet.""Then they are engaged?" Martin drew right away, standing up again.
"Oh, yes, they're engaged."
