He had been smoking for half an hour perhaps, lying deep in his chair,
worn features dully illuminated by the sinking fire; and he was thinking
about going--had again relighted his partly consumed cigar to help him
with its fragrant companionship on his dark route homeward, when he
heard a footfall on the landing, and turned to catch a glimpse of Gerald
in overcoat and hat, moving silently toward the stairs.
"Hello, old fellow!" he said, surprised. "I didn't know you were in the
house."
The boy hesitated, turned, placed something just outside the doorway,
and came quickly into the room.
"Philip!" he said with a curious, excited laugh, "I want to ask you
something. I never yet came to you without asking something and--you
never have failed me. Would you tell me now what I had better do?"
"Certainly," said Selwyn, surprised and smiling; "ask me, old fellow.
You're not eloping with some nice girl, are you?"
"Yes," said Gerald, calm in his excitement, "I am."
"What?" repeated Selwyn gravely; "what did you say?
"You guessed it.
Pages:
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698