“What, with your nose over an account book, and every time you happen to look up, old Crampton staring at you as much as to say, ‘Why don’t you go on?’”
“Never mind, dear. Try and think that it is for your good.”
“For my good!” he said with a mocking laugh.
“Yes, and to please father. Why, Harry, dear, is it not something to have a chance to redeem your character?”
“Redeem my grandmother! I’ve never lost it. Why, Lou, it’s too bad. Here’s father rich as a Jew, and Uncle Luke with no end of money.”
“Has he, Harry?” said Louise thoughtfully. “Really I don’t know.”
“I’m sure he has—lots. A jolly old miser, and no one to leave it to; and I can’t see then why I should be ground down to work like an errand boy.”
“Don’t make a sentimental grievance of it, dear, but go and do your duty like a man.”
“If I do my duty like a man I shall go and try to recover the French estates which my father neglects.”
“No, don’t do that, dear; go and get my old school spelling-book and read the fable of the dog and the shadow.”