“Pretty tired, dad?” he asked, cheerfully.
“Ned,” said John Carrington, slowly, “when you children were little I’m afraid I loved Elenore best. But no daughter can be to a man what his son is.”
There was a little silence. John Carrington lay with his eyes closed. He was tired.
“Do you think Elenore was interested in that young fellow?” he asked, finally.
“If she was, she never said so,” young Carrington replied. He was looking off in the direction of the Tray-Spot.
“If I were a girl, I’m inclined to think he could have me,” John Carrington announced.
Young Carrington’s laugh was lightly amused.
“If I were a girl, I’d lead him on a bit, myself,” he announced.
CHAPTER V.
When Hastings had returned to the car the afternoon before, he told his uncle the story of his interview with the Carringtons quite simply. He was too wise to urge action upon a tired, out-of-temper man; nor did he wait for Mr. Wade’s comment. He shifted conversation to pleasanter things, and by the time Joseph had served them a nice little dinner Mr. Wade’s outer man bore the visible signs of gastronomic peace. A few games of cribbage, which he won, yet not too easily, were also a soothing influence. When Hastings said good-night, Mr. Wade opened the subject of his own accord.