So to prayer meeting she went, with Mrs. Ellis as escort, and her husband and grandson, seated in armchairs before the sitting room stove, both smoking, talked and talked, of the past and of the future—not as man to boy, nor as grandparent to grandson, but for the first time as equals, without reservations, as man to man.
CHAPTER XVIII
The next morning Albert met old Mr. Kendall. After breakfast Captain Zelotes had gone, as usual, directly to the office. His grandson, however, had not accompanied him.
“What are you cal'latin' to do this mornin', Al?” inquired the captain.
“Oh, I don't know exactly, Grandfather. I'm going to look about the place a bit, write a letter to my publishers, and take a walk, I think. You will probably see me at the office pretty soon. I'll look in there by and by.”
“Ain't goin' to write one or two of those five hundred dollar stories before dinner time, are you?”
“I guess not, sir. I'm afraid they won't be written as quickly as all that.”
Captain Lote shook his head. “Godfreys!” he exclaimed; “it ain't the writin' of 'em I'd worry about so much as the gettin' paid for 'em. You're sure that editor man ain't crazy, you say?”
“I hope he isn't. He seemed sane enough when I saw him.”