I have reasons for so doing." "What reasons ?" The question seemed to startle John--he did not reply at once.
"If you wish I will tell you; in order that, should I ever come back--or if I should not come back at all, you who were kind enough to be my friend will know I did not go away from mere youthful recklessness, or love of change." He waited, apparently for some answer--but it came not, and he continued: "I am going because there has befallen me a great trouble, which, while I stay here, I cannot get free from or overcome.

I do not wish to sink under it--I had rather, as you said, 'Do my work in the world' as a man ought.

No man has a right to say unto his Maker, 'My burthen is heavier than I can bear.' Do you not think so ?" "I do." "Do you not think I am right in thus meeting, and trying to conquer, an inevitable ill ?" "IS it inevitable ?" "Hush!" John answered, wildly.

"Don't reason with me--you cannot judge--you do not know.

It is enough that I must go.