“Very well, sir.”
“There is no one in all the colonies for whom I have a greater regard than I have for your grandfather,” spoke Merchant Camp, heartily. “There is no more successful merchant than he, no more honest man and no one more devoted to the cause of the king.”
It was upon the tip of George’s tongue to correct this last, but he restrained himself. There had been no more ardent king’s man in all Boston town than old Seth Prentiss, that was true. But he had experienced a change of heart, and now stood as stoutly for the colonies as he had heretofore stood for their foes.
“I cannot tell you,” went on Merchant Camp, “how pleased I am to meet with you, and all the more so, the conditions being what they are. I trust,” eagerly, “that you are in no way engaged for the evening, lad.”
“No, sir,” replied George.
“Excellent! I am on my way home just now; I live but a step from here, and I want——” Here he paused as though something had occurred to him; he looked searchingly at the young man for a moment, then went on with less enthusiasm: “If you have nothing better to do with your time, I should like to have you dine with me.” George bowed his willingness. “My nephew dines with me to-night, and he will be pleased,” said Mr. Camp. “And Peggy will no doubt be delighted to greet her cousin.”
Then something in the lad’s expression seemed to strike him; and after a moment he added:
“But, perhaps, on the whole, I had better not mention your relationship just yet.”
“Perhaps,” answered George, “it would be as well if you did not.”