As he turned to the door, the rays of the rising sun streamed through the window, and touched the heap of ashes lying black in the black fireplace. The sensitive imagination of Midwinter kindled instantly at the sight.
"Look!" he said, joyously. "The promise of the Future shining over the ashes of the Past!"
An inexplicable pity for the man, at the moment of his life when he needed pity least, stole over the rector's heart when the door had closed, and he was left by himself again.
"Poor fellow!" he said, with an uneasy surprise at his own compassionate impulse. "Poor fellow!"