“Here is to our friends, the Darrell family, but more particularly to Mr. Clarence. We respect him, we like him, we are proud of him;”—all drank—“and I now take the occasion to say to Mr. Darrell, in the presence of our friends here, that I fulfilled my promise to him, and have spoken to our friends here, the heads of families, and they will speak to those who are not present, and we will meet to hear what the Don has to say.”
“But we don't promise to accept any proposition, if it don't suit each one, no matter what anybody votes,” said old Hughes.
“That is understood; we want to be polite, that's all,” explained Mr. Pittikin.
“And that is all I have requested,” Clarence said. “I do not ask any one to accept any proposition against his will.”
“That is fair enough,” said old Hancock.
“And little enough, considering we are in possession of land that the Don believes to be his own,” said Romeo.
“But it ain't,” said old Hager.
“It has been for more than fifty years,” Romeo asserted.
“But he lost it by not complying with the law,” said Hughes.
“Yes, if he had not neglected his rights, his title would not have been rejected; he went to sleep for eight years, and his right was outlawed,” said Miller.