So saying, my Uncle Jack threw himself upon me, and squeezed out of
breath the prudential demur that was rising to my lips.

My poor mother, between laughing and sobbing, faltered out:

"And it is my brother who will pay back to his son all--all he gave up
for me!"

While my father walked to and fro the room, more excited than ever I saw
him before, muttering, "A sad, useless dog I have been hitherto! I
should like to serve the world! I should indeed!"

Uncle Jack had fairly done it this time. He had found out the only bait
in the world to catch so shy a carp as my father,--haaret letalis
arundo. I saw that the deadly hook was within an inch of my father's
nose, and that he was gazing at it with a fixed determination to
swallow.

But if it amused my father? Boy that I was, I saw no further. I must
own I myself was dazzled, and, perhaps with childlike malice, delighted
at the perturbation of my betters. The young carp was pleased to see
the waters so playfully in movement when the old carp waved his tail and
swayed himself on his fins.

"Mum!" said Uncle Jack, releasing me; "not a word to Mr. Trevanion, to
any one."

"But why?"

"Why? God bless my soul. Why? If my scheme gets wind, do you suppose