"The real flare!" he said. "The real flare for
the law. That's right! Couldn't wait till afternoon to begin! I'm
delighted that you--"
"I wanted to say--" George began, but his patron cut him off.
"Wait just a minute, my boy. I've prepared a little speech of
welcome, and even though you're five hours ahead of time, I mean to
deliver it. First of all, your grandfather was my old war-comrade and
my best client; for years I prospered through my connection with his
business, and his grandson is welcome in my office and to my best
efforts in his behalf. But I want to confess, Georgie, that during
your earlier youth I may have had some slight feeling of--well,
prejudice, not altogether in your favour; but whatever slight feeling
it was, it began to vanish on that afternoon, a good while ago, when
you stood up to your Aunt Amelia Amberson as you did in the Major's
library, and talked to her as a man and a gentleman should. I saw
then what good stuff was in you--and I always wanted to mention it.
If my prejudice hadn't altogether vanished after that, the last
vestiges disappeared during these trying times that have come upon you
this past year, when I have been a witness to the depth of feeling
you've shown and your quiet consideration for your grandfather and for
everyone else around you.
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