'Why do you want to know, Pitt?' his mother imprudently asked.
'Because I have got to look them up, mother; and knowing whereabouts they are would be rather a help, you see.'
'You have not got to look them up!' said his father gruffly. 'What business is it of yours? If they were here, it would be all very well for you to pay your respects to the colonel; it would be due; but as it is, there is no obligation.'
'No obligation of civility. There is another, however.'
'What, then?'
'Of friendship, sir.'
'Nonsense. Friendship ought to keep you at home. There is no friendship like that of a man's father and mother. Do you know what a piece of time it would take for you to go to New York to look up a man who lives you do not know where?—what a piece of your vacation?'
'More than I like to think of,' said Pitt; 'but it will have to be done.'
'It will take you two days to get there, and two more days to get back, merely for the journey; and how many do you want to spend in New York?'
'Must have two or three, at least. It will swallow up a week.'