With  McGuire  Ellis,  Hal's  association  had  become  even
more  difficult  than  with  the  Doctor.  Since  his  abrupt  and
unceremonious  departure  from  the  room  of  death,  in  the
belief  in  Hal's  guilt,  Ellis  had  maintained  a  purely  pro
fessional  attitude  toward  his  employer.  For  a  time,  in  his
wretchedness  and  turmoil  of  spirit,  Hal  had  scarcely  no
ticed  Ellis's  withdrawal  of  fellowship,  vaguely  attributing
his  silence  to  unexpressed  sympathy.  But  later,  when  he
broached  the  subject  of  Milly's  death,  he  was  met  with  a
stony  avoidance  which  inspired  both  astonishment  and
resentment.  Sub-normal  as  he  now  was  in  nervous  strength
and  tension,  he  shrank  from  having  it  out  with  Ellis.  But
he  felt,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  forlorn  and  friendless.
On  his  part  McGuire  Ellis  brooded  over  a  deep  anger.
He  was  not  a  man  to  yield  lightly  of  his  best;  but  he  had
given  to  Hal,  first  a  fine  loyalty,  and  later,  as  they  grew
into  closer  association,  a  warm  if  rather  reticent  affection.
For  the  rough  idealist  had  found  in  his  employer  an  ideal
ism  not  always  as  clear  and  intelligent  as  his  own,  yet

304


THE   GREATER   TEMPTING

often  higher  and  finer;  and  along  with  the  professional
protectiveness  which  he  had  assumed  over  the  younger
man's  inexperience  had  come  an  honest  admiration  and
far-reaching  hopes.  Now  he  saw  in  his  chief  one  who  had
betrayed  his  cause  through  a  weak  and  selfish  indulgence.
