don't mind supposing a case. Suppose you was a chap in college. Suppose
you met a girl in the vicinity that was--well, was about the best ever.
Suppose you came to find that life wasn't worth a continental without
that girl. Then suppose you had a dad with money, lots of money. Suppose
the old fo--the gov'nor, I mean--without even seeing her or even
knowing her name or a thing about her, said no. Suppose you and the old
gentleman had a devil of a row, and broke off for keeps. Then suppose
the girl wouldn't listen to you under the circumstances. Talked rot
about 'wasted future' and 'throwing your life away' and so on. Suppose,
when you showed her that you didn't care a red for futures, she ran
away from you and wouldn't tell where she'd gone. Suppose--well, I guess
that's enough supposing. I don't know why I'm telling you these things,
anyway."

He stopped and scowled at the floor, acting like he was sorry he spoke.
I pulled at my pipe a minute or so and then says I:

"Hum!" I says, "I presume likely it's fair to suppose that this break
with the old gent is for good?"

He didn't answer, but he didn't need to; the look on his face was
enough.

"Yes," says I. "Well, it's likewise to be supposed that the idea--the
eventual idea--is marriage, straight marriage, hey?"

He jumped out of his chair. "Why, damn you!" he says. "I'll--"

"All right. Set down and be nice. I was fairly sure of my soundings, but
it don't do no harm to heave the lead. I ask your pardon. Well, what you