"Shall I?"
"It will be for your advantage, and your father——"
"Don't mention him. Let every tub stand on its own bottom, my father always taught me. Talk about me, if you like, but leave dad alone."
"Then, for your own sake, tell me why you did it. Did others prompt you?"
"I don't know what you mean by prompt, but if you mean did anyone tell me to do it, I say no. I thought of it all by myself, and I made a bargain with father, which he didn't keep; but he was a long time before he saw it as I did."
"Tell all your story, and leave the rest to me."
"Well, you see, father wanted money——"
"Ah! so money stands before country?"
"Let me tell my story."
"Go on, I will not interrupt you again."