“Apologised, Colonel Forrester! Why, sir, I commend myself for my restraint. If it had been any other man than my oldest friend who had dared to utter such disloyal thoughts against the king, I should have struck him from his horse. Good day, sir, and I pray Heaven to place better thoughts in your mind! Scarlett, my boy.”
“Yes, father.”
“Come here.”
“Mayn’t I shake hands with Fred Forrester first?”
“No. Yes. You boys have no quarrel. But it will be better that you should keep at home for the present.”
“Oh, Fred, what’s the matter?” whispered Scarlett.
“Don’t you know?”
“Ye–es, I’m afraid I do.”
“That’s it. I didn’t know we were going to have trouble about it down here in Coombeland. But, I say, Scar, we’re good friends, aren’t we?”
“Yes, of course.”