THE STEADFAST HEART
for him. It was natural they should—everybody in Rainbow did. People who knew who he was always made things uncomfortable for him.
“I don’t know,” said Angus.
“Think it out,” said Mr. Woodhouse. “Have you a right to work here?”
Angus hesitated, then he said, “I would stay anyhow—if you kept on wanting me to.”
“Why?”
“Because—this is your bank. They can’t say who you shall hire unless you want them to. If I worked in a bank, and the man I worked for hired somebody I—didn’t want to work with, why, I’d stop working there. I got a right to do that. But if I stayed and worked I wouldn’t have a right to pick on the man…. I’ve got to work somewhere. I’m fit to work with folks. I’ve got to think that. I got to stand up for myself…. If I quit working here because they wanted me to—it wouldn’t be right. I’d be giving in. Maybe, everywhere I went to work, there’d be someone that didn’t want me…. I’ve got to begin staying some place. So I’ll stay here if you keep on wanting me.”
“I want you,” said Mr. Woodhouse simply. “I think I shall come to want you very much. Sit here a moment.”
He went into the banking office, closing the
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