"
"Ah," Townsend murmured, "I don't know what to answer when you say
that! You advise me, then, not to despair?"
And he looked at his interlocutor as if the question might have a
double meaning. The Doctor caught the look and weighed it a moment
before he replied. "I should be very sorry to admit that a robust
and well-disposed young man need ever despair. If he doesn't succeed
in one thing, he can try another. Only, I should add, he should
choose his line with discretion."
"Ah, yes, with discretion," Morris Townsend repeated sympathetically.
"Well, I have been indiscreet, formerly; but I think I have got over
it. I am very steady now." And he stood a moment, looking down at
his remarkably neat shoes. Then at last, "Were you kindly intending
to propose something for my advantage?" he inquired, looking up and
smiling.
"Damn his impudence!" the Doctor exclaimed privately. But in a
moment he reflected that he himself had, after all, touched first
upon this delicate point, and that his words might have been
construed as an offer of assistance. "I have no particular proposal
to make," he presently said; "but it occurred to me to let you know
that I have you in my mind. Sometimes one hears of opportunities.
For instance--should you object to leaving New York--to going to a
distance?"
"I am afraid I shouldn't be able to manage that. I must seek my
fortune here or nowhere.
Pages:
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82