"I think he did. He never thought we should wish to take any till we were of an age to decide for ourselves."
"Don't you call fourteen old enough? Tom says he calls it absurd to tie us down to an idea."
"Tom knows nothing about it, Hugh."
"How doesn't he?"
"Nothing about father's opinions, nor the principle of the thing."
"Do you mean to say father has ever forbidden me?"
"Perhaps not in so many words."
"Do you think he would have, if I had waited to ask him?"
"I believe so."
"I did not do it as an act of disobedience," said Hugh, "and your making it out so is horrid. I thought I was free to take it if I liked, so long as I didn't take much."