“Of course I have.”
“And wished yourself at home?” said Uncle Dick.
“Scores of times, uncle.”
“Well, then, now we wish you to go, feeling that it is best for you, and you turn restive as that jackass we hired for you to ride down in Essex.”
“Haven’t you three fellows been teaching me ever since I was a little tot, to try and be a man?”
“Yes,” said Uncle Dick.
“When I’ve tumbled down and knocked the skin off my knees haven’t you said ‘don’t cry: be a man!’”
“Oh yes! Guilty!” said Uncle Dick.
“If I fell out of the swing didn’t you hold your cool hand to the great lump on my head and tell me that I must try to bear it without howling: like a man?”
“Yes, boy, yes.”