You will naturally imagine that he is deaf. Make no such mistake. Don't shout at him while at table, lowering your voice when you turn to talk to others. If you do so what a little ill-mannered brat he will consider you.
Never tell him that he looks a little poorly, "sir." In fact the less you "sir" the better.
Never, in asking a question, prefix it with the words: "I suppose when you were young, sir."
Never, if talking about ages or the long ago, make use of the words: "Oh! you may live a good few years yet, sir."
For there is a good chance of the boy who smokes cigarettes and reads the sporting papers being dead long, long before the man of fifty.
And never on any account hold out your arm as if to support him when alighting from a carriage, or ten to one you'll receive a snub.
If invited to such a gentleman's house, leave all your swagger at home, and don't go chucking the maids under the chin and calling them "Mary." The result would probably be that you would be speedily kicked out by the old guv'nor.
And men of fifty can kick too. It is the scientific kick, not done with the toe of the boot but the flat sole. You get there all the same, however, that is, sprawling on your face on the muddy pavement.
These words may be a digression, boys, but they are very true.
The engineers all that day were busy repairing, but next day was Saturday, and till well into the dog watches McTavish thought he had never spent such an anxious day, but about five o'clock the gig was called away, and the doctor himself went in her.