Page:The council of seven.djvu/322

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LI

A solemn pause followed. And then Hierons, with rather an air of taking the bit between his teeth, went suddenly on:

"Fate has ordained that your husband shall do a thing which we, his friends and co-workers, humbly believe to be the will of God."

"That may be your view," said Helen. "It may be the view of your Society. But it is not my husband's. And he is quite ready to give his own life rather than take, as he believes unlawfully, the life of another man."

"To the Council yesterday," said Hierons, "your husband made a similar statement. And, my dear Mrs. Endor,"—deep feeling suddenly fused the voice of her countryman—"I have to say this: We, the six members of the Council who were present, were most profoundly moved by the appeal your husband made to us. The strength of his position in England at this moment we fully recognize. Upheld by a recent victory against enormous odds, he believes that he is called to a great work for the state. He believes that