No More Learning

You
know that as well as I do. "

"I remember how the people cursed us when our troops withdrew from
Omdurman. It was bound to crop up sooner or later. But I can't go," said
Torpenhow. He pointed through the open door; it was a hot night. "Can
you blame me? "

The Keneu purred above his pipe like a large and very happy cat--"Don't
blame you in the least. It's uncommonly good of you, and all the rest
of it, but every man--even you, Torp--must consider his work. I know it
sounds brutal, but Dick's out of the race,--down,--gastados expended,
finished, done for. He has a little money of his own. He won't starve,
and you can't pull out of your slide for his sake. Think of your own
reputation. "

"Dick's was five times bigger than mine and yours put together. "

"That was because he signed his name to everything he did. It's all
ended now.
You must hold yourself in readiness to move out. You can
command your own prices, and you do better work than any three of us. "

"Don't tell me how tempting it is. I'll stay here to look after Dick
for a while. He's as cheerful as a bear with a sore head, but I think he
likes to have me near him. "

The Nilghai said something uncomplimentary about soft-headed fools who
throw away their careers for other fools. Torpenhow flushed angrily. The
constant strain of attendance on Dick had worn his nerves thin.

"There remains a third fate," said the Keneu, thoughtfully. "Consider
this, and be not larger fools than necessary. Dick is--or rather
was--an able-bodied man of moderate attractions and a certain amount of
audacity. "

"Oho! " said the Nilghai, who remembered an affair at Cairo. "I begin to
see,--Torp, I'm sorry. "

Torpenhow nodded forgiveness: "You were more sorry when he cut you out,
though. --Go on, Keneu.