"Then you'll get none of my money!" said the old gentleman.

"To hell with your money!" Stan said, and slammed the door.

He was always a dreadful boy, my dear! So violent and headstrong! Always
picking on my poor Johnny at school; Johnny came home once with the most
dreadful bruise over his eye--Stanley's work.

So young Stan flung away to the West three years ago. The Selden girl
still teaches the Brookfield District; Stan Mitchell writes to her, the
mail carrier says. No-o; not so bad-looking, exactly--in that common sort
of way!




CHAPTER IX


"Far be it from me to--to--"

"Cavil or carp?"

"Exactly. Thank you. Beautiful line! Quite Kipling. Far from me to cavil
or carp, Tum-tee-tum-tee-didy, Or shift the shuttle from web or warp. And
all for my dark-eyed lydy! Far be it from me, as above. Nevertheless--"

"Why, then, the exertion?"

"Duty. Friendship. Francis Charles Boland, you're lazy."