Part 11 (1/2)

”Sir,” I said, ”You astound me”

”Astound you?” He left his neckcloth half undone, and stepped toward me, alertly courteous ”You mean you take exception to what I have just said?”

”Indeed not,” I replied, with another bow ”I find you changed this ood example instead of a bad one”

And then before he could reply, I leaned over the chair he had quitted

Lying in the corner of the faded upholstery was an oval of gold Before he perceived my intention, I had picked it up, and almost at the same moment his hand fell on my arm I looked up quickly His face was close to mine, closer than I had ever seen it, placid still, but soed, somehow so subtly different that I wrenched myself free, and stepped a pace away Brutus dropped the coat he was folding, and shuffled forward hastily

”How careless of ently ”Hand me the locket, if you please,it up”

The jewelled clasp was underflew open, but before I could look further, he had struck a sharp blow at my wrist, and the locket fell from my hand

”Pick it up, Brutus,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine, and atched each other for a second in silence

”Coo down stairs You may find it instructive to see how I treat my enemies”

”I am afraid,” I said slowly, ”that you will do better without me”

Slowly the thin line of his lips relaxed, and he raised his hands to adjust his neckcloth

”Your episode with Mr Lawton ht have used to an aet

You are still pursuing part of your education Never, never neglect an opportunity to learn,tells me even now you will be repaid for your trouble Come, we are late already”

So I followed hi room I could not suppress a start as I passed over the threshold In front of our heavysome maps and charts that had been scattered there, was my Uncle Jason

VIII

Of all the people I had expected to see thathe was the last

Almost unconsciously I recalled the little kindnesses he had rendered me

Busy as he had been with commercial ventures, there was never a time when he had not stood ready with his help And even retful affection in his sad little reht I detected a trace of that affection, a trace of appeal, ale contrast, ay coat and laces, his slender, upright figure, and his face, almost youthful beneath his powdered hair For htly bowed him The wrinkles were deep about his ray already at the temples His plain black coat and knee breeches rinkled from travel As he often put it, he had no tilowed froood humored twinkle in his brown eyes which ith his broad shoulders and his strongly knit body His reputation for genial good nature ith him still

He stretched forth a hand, but the iven his undivided attention to the shutters on the east s He walked swiftly over and drew the a bolt to hold theether slowly, exalance, and then he bowed

”You are growing old, Jason,” he said, by way of greeting

”Ah, George,” said ood to see the father and the son together”

My father joined the tips of his fingers and regarded him solemnly