Had I been alone with him I should have cast myself at his feet, for it hurt me sorely to see him so. As it was, I held my head high.
“The Carvels ever did what they believed right, sir,” I answered. “You would not have me to go against my conscience?”
To this he replied nothing.
“The evil has been done, as I feared, father,” said Grafton, presently; “we must now seek for the remedy.”
“Let me question the lad,” Mr. Allen softly interposed. “Tell me, Richard, who has influenced you to this way of thinking?”
I saw his ruse, and was not to be duped by it.
“Men who have not feared to act bravely against oppression, sir,” I said.
“Thank God,” exclaimed my uncle, with fervour, “that I have been more careful of Philip's associations, and that he has not caught in the streets and taverns this noxious creed!”
“There is no danger from Philip; he remembers his family name,” said the rector.
“No,” quoth Mr. Carvel, bitterly, “there is no danger from Philip. Like his father, he will ever believe that which best serves him.”