“Don’t be bitter, my boy,” he replied. “Only, if I were you, I wouldn’t encourage these visitations.”
“I don’t.”
“That’s right. You see, she’s a great catch—rather a unique young party with her looks and her fortune.”
“I quite understand. I assure you, sir, I shall be only too glad if you’ll keep her away.”
“What a misogynist it is!”
He looked up at me suddenly, seemed to catch his breath, and put his hand to his forehead.
“What is it, sir?” I exclaimed.
“Eh!” he said vaguely. “Nothing—O, nothing!”
He appeared to make an effort to recall himself, and was presently smiling genially, though his loose old underlip trembled.
“What a great fellow you have grown, to be sure,” he said—“a fine personable fellow and a credit to us, too.”