“There was a trifle of money between you, I think,” said Dalton, ostentatiously; “have you any notion of what it is?”
“I came not here to collect a debt, Herr von Dalton,” said Adolf, rising, and assuming a look of almost fierceness in his pride.
“Very well, very well; just as you please,” said Dalton, carelessly; “it will come with his other accounts in the half-year; for, no matter how liberal a man is to his boys, he'll be pestered with bills after all! There's blaguards will be lending them money, and teachin' them extravagance, just out of devilment, I believe. I know well how it used to be with myself when I was in old 'Trinity,' long ago. There was a little chap of the name of Foley, and, by the same token, a pedler, too——”
“Oh, papa, he's going away, and you have n't thanked him yet!” cried Nelly, feelingly.
“What a hurry he's in!” said Dalton, as he watched the eager haste with which the pedler was now arranging the straps of his knapsack.
“Would you not ask him to stay—to dine with us?” faltered Nelly, in a low, faint whisper.
“The pedler—to dine?” asked Dalton, with a look of astonishment
“Frank's only friend!” sighed she, mournfully.
“By my conscience, sometimes I don't know if I 'm standing on my head or my heels,” cried Dalton, as he wiped his brows, with a look of utter bewilderment. “A pedler to dinner! There now—that's it—more haste worse speed: he's broke that strap in his hurry!”
“Shall I sew it for you?” said Nelly, stooping down and taking out her needle as she spoke.