Masters started up. Gripped the boy by both shoulders and shook him. Happiness struggled with the tears in his eyes as he said:
"Dick, just a wee while ago—forgive me for it, laddie—I hated you! Now I love you! I love you! I love you! You've told me just the best news I've heard for years."
"That's all right, old man."
He shook himself free, and ruefully rubbing his shoulders, continued:
"What that news may be I don't know; it's beyond my intellect's horizon. However, as it pleases you it's sufficient—so long as it doesn't hurt me. Don't make me black and blue in the exuberance of your affection. As the poet hath it: It's all very well to dissemble your love, but why do you kick me downstairs?"
"I'm sorry, Dick—really sorry. Did I hurt you? I'm so full of happiness that I could kick myself for having been such a fool all this horrible long time."
"You speak in the past tense. Seems to me the foolishness is only just coming to a head!"
"Stop your chaff, there's a good fellow. You can use that later on. Just now it's almost life and death with me. What's your sister's full name, Dick?"
"Full name? Mabel Seton-Carr, of course!"
"Of course! Of course! Of course! Didn't Gracie write it in full in my book?"