Valentine said: “Good Lord, I might have been your son!”
“You might,” said Mr. Lapwing. “Easily. But it has come to almost the same thing in the end, hasn’t it? Except, perhaps, that I have not a father’s right to advise you.”
Valentine said violently: “You’ve got every right in the world to advise me! Considering what you’ve done for me all my life!”
“Then,” said Mr. Lapwing, “don’t be an ass.”
Valentine saw Valerest’s mocking eyes, heard Valerest’s mocking laugh, and about his mind walked Mr. Tuppy with his old, unsmiling eyes. He muttered: “But, look here, Valerest will just think I’ve given in!”
“So you have,” said Mr. Lapwing.
“Well, then,” said Valentine bitterly, “it will all——”
“She’ll grow,” said Mr. Lapwing. He was tired. “And, Valentine, she has got more right to be an ass than you have. Remember that. There’s no use being sentimental about it, but they put up with a lot of pain, women. Remember that. And——”
“But look here,” said Valentine, “if I——”
“Oh, go and make love to the girl!” snapped Mr. Lapwing. “And forget that a clergyman ever told you that she must obey you.”