Part 52 (1/2)
”I don't mean to.”
”Suppose you do?”
”Then I will go to work.”
”I should like to have you graduate well at college and then study law. You might get into Congress,” said his mother.
”I guess I'll know enough for that,” said G.o.dfrey, carelessly. ”I want to have a good time.”
That was not the worst of it, however. He extorted from his mother a large allowance, which he spent at bars and billiard saloons, and one day was brought home drunk by a schoolfellow.
”Oh, G.o.dfrey, how can you do so?” exclaimed the selfish woman, for once fairly alarmed on another's account.
”Hush up, old woman!” hiccoughed G.o.dfrey.
Mrs. Preston was mortified to think this should be said to her before G.o.dfrey's schoolmate.
”He does not know what he is saying,” she said, apologetically.
”Yes, I do,” persisted G.o.dfrey. ”I'm a--a gen'leman's son. I don't want you to interfere with gen'leman's son.”
He was put to bed, and awoke the next morning with a splitting headache. It was the morning of the day which the doctor and Mr.
Graves had chosen to call on Mrs. Preston. She was preparing to go out, when a servant came upstairs to announce that two gentlemen were in the parlor, and wanted to see her.
”Two gentlemen! What do they look like, Nancy?”
”One of 'em looks like he was from the country, mum.”
This referred to Mr. Graves, who did have a rustic look. The doctor would readily have pa.s.sed for a Bostonian.
”Did they give their names?”
”No, mum.”
”I will go down directly. I suppose they won't stay long.”
Mrs. Preston sailed into the parlor with the air of a city lady, as she proudly imagined, but stopped short in some surprise when she recognized her visitors. Of course, she did not suspect the nature of their business.
Dr. Townley arose as she entered.
”Good-morning, Mrs. Preston,” he said. ”I hope I find you well?”
”I am quite well,” said Mrs. Preston, coldly, for she had never liked the doctor. She had an unpleasant feeling that he understood her, and was not among her admirers. ”Good-morning, Mr. Graves. You come to the city occasionally?”
”I don't often get time to come up, but the doctor thought I ought to come.”
”Indeed! I am sorry to say that I am just going out.”
”I must ask you to defer going till we have communicated our business,” said the doctor.