CHAPTER XI
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eside an absolute refusal again to supply, Brent made no sign of therebellion which was in him, and his second year slipped quickly anduneventfully away. He went to and from his duties silent and self-contained.He did not confide in Mr. Hodges, because his guardian seemed to growmore and more jealous of their friendship. He could not confide inElizabeth, on account of a growing conviction that she did not fullysympathise with him. But his real feelings may be gathered from a letterwhich he wrote to his friend Taylor some two months after the eventsrecorded in the last chapter. "My dear Taylor," it ran, "time and again I have told myself that I wouldwrite you a line, keeping you in touch, as I promised, with my progress.Many times have I thought of our last talk together, and still 1 think as Ithought then—that, in spite of all your disadvantages and your defeats, youhave the best of it. When you fail, it is your own failure, and you bear down 67
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