“What is it?”
With a shrug of his shoulders, Paul handed the paper over to Carl, pointing out the paragraph. Carl gave it to Mr. Lambert.
“Read it, father.” So Mr. Lambert put on his spectacles, while Jane looked uneasily at Paul.
Mr. Lambert read it aloud, and then without making any comment, laid the paper aside. He looked displeased.
“Why don’t you compete, Paul?” said Carl suddenly. “There’d be no harm in trying.”
Then Aunt Gertrude, glancing timidly at her husband, found courage to put in a word.
There was a silence, during which everyone waited for Mr. Lambert to say something; but no remark from him was forthcoming. That he was annoyed could be seen plainly, but because the suggestion had come from Carl he maintained his silence.
“Do you think you’d stand any chance of winning, Paul?” Carl asked secure in his peculiar privileges of free speech.
“I don’t know. How should I?”
Jane was simply on tenter-hooks. If only Carl would take up the case!