Dan’l is too Attentive.
Things were not quite so smooth as Dr Grayson thought, for there had been stormy weather at Sir James’s.
“Well, my dear, you are my husband, and it is my duty to obey,” said Lady Danby; “but I do protest against my darling son being forced to associate with a boy of an exceedingly low type.”
“Allow me, my dear,” said Sir James importantly. “By Dr Grayson’s act, in taking that boy into his house, he has wiped away any stigma which may cling to him; and I must say that the lad displayed a great deal of animal courage—that kind of brute courage which comes from an ignorance of danger.”
“Is it animal courage not to be afraid of animals, ma?” said Master Edgar.
“Yes, my dear, of course,” said Lady Danby.
“I wish Edgar would display courage of any kind,” said Sir James.
“Why, you ran away from the bulls too, papa,” said Master Edgar.
“I am a great sufferer from nervousness, Edgar,” said Sir James reprovingly; “but we were not discussing that question. Dr Grayson has accepted the invitation for his adopted son. It is his whim for the moment, and it is only becoming on my part to show that we are grateful for the way in which the boy behaved. By the time a month has gone by, I have no doubt that the boy will be back at the—the place from which he came; but while he is at Dr Grayson’s I desire that he be treated as if he were Dr Grayson’s son.”
“Very well, James,” said Lady Danby, in an ill-used tone of voice. “You are master here, and we must obey.”