"Ought he
to have given this answer?--to have uttered that defiance? Did I
think he had shown self-control; Had he treated the old gentleman
with becoming respect? Would I put myself in his place? Suppose it
had been my own father, now--"
"But yours, lad, is a father in a thousand," he broke off bitterly.
"I had never a notion that father and son could be friends, as are
you and he. He is splendid--splendid!"
I glanced at him quickly and turned my face aside, suspecting that he
took my father for a madman, and was kindly concealing the discovery.
Nevertheless I hardened my voice to answer--
"You will say so when you know him better. And my Uncle Gervase runs
him a good second."
"Faith, then, I wish you'd persuade your uncle to adopt me. I'm not
envious, Prosper, in a general way, but your luck gives me a duced
orphanly feeling. Have I been over-hasty? That is the question;
whether 'twas nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of
accusing conscience or to up and have it out with the old man."
"Pardon me, gentlemen"--Mr. Fett wheeled about suddenly on the road
ahead of us--"but it was by accident that I overheard you, and by a
singular coincidence at that moment I happened to be discussing the
same subject with Mr.
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