My three uncles looked hard at him and then at one another, seemed to read each other’s eyes, and turned back to him.
“You’re oldest, Alick, and head of the firm,” said Uncle Dick; “settle it.”
“No,” said my father, “it shall be settled by you three.”
“I know what I think,” said Uncle Jack; “but I’d rather you’d say.”
“My mind’s made up,” said Uncle Bob, “but I don’t want to be speaker. You settle it, Alick.”
“No,” said my father; “I have laid the case before you three, who have equal stakes in the risk, and you shall settle the matter.”
There was a dead silence in the room, which was so still that the sputtering noise made by the big lamp and the tinkle of a few cinders that fell from the fire sounded painfully loud. They looked at each other, but no one spoke, till Uncle Dick had fidgeted about in his chair for some time, and then, giving his big beard a twitch, he bent forward.
I heard my other uncles sigh as if they were relieved, and they sat back farther in their seats listening for what Uncle Dick, who was the eldest, might wish to say.
“Look here,” he cried at last.
Everybody did look there, but saw nothing but Uncle Dick, who kept tugging at one lock of his beard, as if that was the string that would let loose a whole shower-bath of words.