Part 7 (1/2)
Kit understood the sneer, but did not choose to notice it.
”Thank you for the compliment,” he responded quietly.
”O, I didn't mean to flatter you! You are puffed up enough.”
”Are you sorry I jumped into the ring, Ralph?” asked Kit good-naturedly.
”I don't believe there was any real danger.”
”Then I must congratulate you upon your courage. All the rest of us were frightened, and even Mr. Barlow admitted that there was danger.”
”The lion was half tame. It isn't as if he were wild.”
”He looked wild enough to me when I faced him in the ring. I confess that my knees began to tremble, and I wished myself at home.”
”You'd better set up as a lion tamer,” said Ralph.
”Thank you; I think I should prefer some other business, where my life would be safer.”
”You are likely to have your wish, then.”
”What do you mean?” asked Kit quickly, detecting a significance in Ralph's tone.
”I mean that father intends to have you learn a trade.”
”Has he told you so?”
”Yes.”
”Doesn't he propose to consult me?”
”Why should he? You are only a boy, and can't judge what is best for yourself.”
”Still I am likely to be more interested than any one else in the way I am to earn my living. What trade are _you_ going to learn?”
”What trade am I going to learn?” repeated Ralph, with the a.s.sumption of insulted dignity. ”None at all. I shall be a merchant or a professional man.”
”And why should not I be the same?” asked Kit.
”Because you're a poor boy. Didn't my father tell you this afternoon that you had no money coming to you?”
”Yes; but that needn't prevent me from becoming a merchant, or studying a profession.”
”So _you_ think. You can't expect my father to pay for sending you to college, or support you while you are qualifying yourself to be a merchant.”
”I don't know yet what I am ent.i.tled to expect.”
”You will soon know.”
”How soon?”