gering, for I know I was put to it more than once for something novel.
Things had got to this pass when the great blow fell, for which I was totally unprepared. Mrs. Willkit came down specially for it, and I remember yet the air of suppressed importance with which she delivered herself. The small daughter was with her as usual and the sphinx-like stare of the immoble young countenance gave me a chilly feeling. The great piece of news was that they had decided to leave Ontario, and go out West to live, perhaps even to the States where her sister's husband had a ranch. Mr. Willkit was getting tired of business and he had always fancied farming. He was going out ahead to see the lay of things, and if he was satisfied they'd all move out in the Spring, unless the girls took a notion they'd ruther stay on with the Firm.
When I got my breath I asked if she liked the prospect herself and she said in a vague way that it might be a good thing to have a change. I fancy I noticed a trace of apathy in her tone. The inevitable fruit of negation is apathy. Indeed apathy might be defined as negation of the soul, a spiritual inhibition.
