Paper and ink were common enough commodities surely. All that had to be done was to print, and if a press were at hand it must be the easiest thing in the world to do that. Why did people make such a fuss over printing a paper?
Thoughtfully he walked home and turned in at his own door.
He was in a very sober frame of mind, unwontedly sober for him; so sober, in fact, that his father, whom he encountered in the hall, exclaimed:
"Goodness me, son, you look as if your last friend on earth had perished. What's the matter?"
The boy smiled faintly.
"Nothing, sir."
"But you'd never look like that if there weren't. Come, tell me all about it. What's the trouble?"
The gray eyes of the man regarded the lad kindly.
"I'm—I'm just thinking."
"About what, pray? Something pretty solemn, I'll be bound," persisted his father.