Weighed down by a guilty conscience, the boys ate their breakfast in silence. Jack waited for Paul to finish. They noted with dismay that Dr. Morrison, although through with his morning meal, sat by the table and read the paper. Paul said, “I’m ready, Jack, let’s go.”
Dr. Morrison rose with the boys and took them under the arm. “Where to?” he asked.
Paul squirmed. “Just out to the porch,” he answered.
“Are you in any particular hurry? Something very important to talk about?”
“No,” his son answered hesitantly.
“That’s fine. Do you mind coming into my office for a couple of minutes?”
Jack thinking that Dr. Morrison meant only Paul, drew away. But the doctor said to him, “You, too, Jack. Come along.”
Dr. Morrison sat down at his desk and pointed the boys to chairs. For a moment there was silence. “Well,” remarked the doctor, “now tell me what this is all about.”
The boys fidgeted. “What what’s about, Dad?”
“Now don’t pretend ignorance,” commented the doctor. “You know very well what I mean.”