Meantime Dick Lee's part in the matter, and that of his family, had been taken for granted, all around. An hour later, however, Mrs. Kinzer's first reply to her son, after listening to a calculation of his, which almost made it seem as if Dick would make money by going to Grantley, was,—
"What if Mrs. Lee should say she can't spare him?"
Dab's countenance fell. He knew Mrs. Lee, but he had not thought so far as that.
He said something not very intelligible, but to that effect.
"Well, Dabney, if we can make the other arrangements, I'll see her about it."
Ham Morris had been exchanging remarkable winks with Miranda and
Samantha, and now gravely suggested,—
"Maybe the academy authorities will refuse to take him."
"Ford says they had a blacker boy than he is, there, last year."
"Now, Dab!" exclaimed Ham.
"Well, I know he's pretty black; but it don't come off."