Altogether I had become, for the first time in my
existence, an object of consequence to my fellow-citizens, and almost
to the world at large.
As for the hero himself, he bore his importance modestly and meekly,
though he evidently considered that he had rescued the family name from
obscurity and set it gloriously in the public eye by dint of his
renown. He was in strict training, and fiercely conscientious as to
what he ate and drank, and as to his hours of sleep. Little was heard
in the house when he was at home but conjecture and estimate as to who
was likely to win in the impending contest. Had I been properly
attentive, I might have learned from his lips not merely the names and
nicknames of the members of the respective teams and the positions on
the field they were to fill, but their weights in fighting trim, their
fine points both as foot-ball kickers and as men, and not improbably
their love affairs. When now and then, as occasionally happened, I
betrayed by an unfortunate question or by unappreciative silence my
lack of familiarity with this or that celebrity, the look of wondering
pity with which my boy, and indeed every member of the family, regarded
me made me feel myself to be a veritable ignoramus. Josephine and her
girls knew the whole business from beginning to end, and I must confess
that I secretly drank in more than I pretended.
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