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CHAPTER XXIII

FOR several days Hugh was tortured by doubt and indecision: there were times when he thought that he loved Cynthia, times when he was sure that he didn’t; when he lad just about made up his mind that he hated her, ie found himself planning to follow her to New Rochelle; he tried to persuade himself that his

onduct was no more reprehensible than that of

iis comrades, but shame invariably overwhelmed iis arguments; there were hours when he ached for Cynthia, and hours when he loathed her for smashing something that had been beautiful. Most of all, he wanted comfort, advice, but he cnew no one to whom he was willing to give his

onfidence.

Somehow, he could n’t admit his drunkenness to any one whose advice he valued, hie called on Professor Henley twice, intending to make a clean breast of his transgressions. Henley, he knew, would not lecture him, but when he found himself facing him, he could not bring himself to confession; he was afraid of losing Henley s respect.

Finally, in desperation, he talked to Norry, not

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