Part 14 (2/2)
”As strong as you are, sir.”
”He's ten years my senior, you know.”
”Yes, I know he is. He's not nearly so young a man as you are; but I really think he is as strong. He's a wonderful man for his years, certainly.”
”I'm delighted to hear it,” said Sir Lionel. A keen judge of character, however, scrutinizing the colonel's face closely, would not then have read much warm delight therein depicted.
”You rather like him on the whole, then--eh, George?”
”Well; I really think I do. I am sure I ought to like him. But--”
”Well, George; speak out. You and I need have no secrets.”
”Secrets, no; I've no secret. My uncle has a way of saying too much himself about what he does for one.”
”Sends in the bill too often--eh, George?”
”If it is to be a bill, let him say so. I for one shall not blame him. There is no reason he should give me anything. But situated as I have been at Oxford, it would have been almost absurd in me to refuse his allowance--”
”Quite absurd.”
”When he knew I was coming out to you, he made Pritchett--you know Pritchett?”
”And his handwriting--very well indeed.”
”He made Pritchett put three hundred pounds to my credit; that was over and above my allowance. Well, I did almost make up my mind to return that; as it is, I have not touched it, and I think I shall repay it.”
”For heaven's sake do no such thing. It would be an offence which he would never forgive.” Sir Lionel did say so much with something of parental energy in his tone and manner.
”Yes, sir; but to be told of it!”
”But he does not ask you to pay it him back again?”
”If he asks you;--is not that the same thing? But you hardly understand me, or him either.”
”I think I understand him, George. I wonder whether they could give us a cup of coffee here?”
”Of course they can:” and George rang the bell.
”Perhaps so; but as far as my experience goes, wherever Englishmen frequent, there the coffee is spoilt. Englishmen, as far as I can see, have a partiality for chicory, but none at all for coffee.”
”What I mean, sir, is this. Connected as I and my uncle are together, seeing that he has all my life--” Here George paused a moment, for what he was about to say might have seemed to imply a censure on his father.
”Paid your school-bills, and all that sort of thing,” filled in Sir Lionel.
”Yes; as he has always done that, it seemed so natural that I should take what he gave me.”
”Quite natural. You could have done nothing else.”
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