"
"I will take the first work that offers, to-morrow."
"Do so by all means--but for your own sake, not for mine."
"I see; you think I am an idler!" Morris exclaimed, a little too much
in the tone of a man who has made a discovery. But he saw his error
immediately, and blushed.
"It doesn't matter what I think, when once I have told you I don't
think of you as a son-in-law."
But Morris persisted. "You think I would squander her money."
The Doctor smiled. "It doesn't matter, as I say; but I plead guilty
to that."
"That's because I spent my own, I suppose," said Morris. "I frankly
confess that. I have been wild. I have been foolish. I will tell
you every crazy thing I ever did, if you like. There were some great
follies among the number--I have never concealed that. But I have
sown my wild oats. Isn't there some proverb about a reformed rake?
I was not a rake, but I assure you I have reformed. It is better to
have amused oneself for a while and have done with it. Your daughter
would never care for a milksop; and I will take the liberty of saying
that you would like one quite as little. Besides, between my money
and hers there is a great difference. I spent my own; it was because
it was my own that I spent it. And I made no debts; when it was gone
I stopped. I don't owe a penny in the world."
"Allow me to inquire what you are living on now--though I admit," the
Doctor added, "that the question, on my part, is inconsistent.
Pages:
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103