ir edges. Now and
then, in his mental absorption, he would absently cross his legs only
to straighten them out again, his state of mind an open book to Gorsuch,
who had followed the same line of reasoning and who had brought the news
himself that he might the better watch its effect.

"I'm surprised that Temple should select the Patapsco. It has never got
over its last smash of four years ago," Gorsuch at last remarked. He did
not intend to let the topic drift away from Harry if he could help it.

"I am not surprised, John. St. George is the best fellow in the world,
but he never lets anything work but his heart. When you get at the
bottom of it you will find that he's backed up the bank because some
poor devil of a teller or clerk, or may be some director, is his friend.
That's enough for St. George, and further than that he never goes. He's
thrown away two fortunes now--his grandmother's, which was small but
sound--and his father's, which if he had attended to it would have kept
him comfortable all his life."

"You had some words at the club, I heard," interjected Gorsuch.

"No, he had some words, I had a julep," and the colonel smiled grimly.

"But you are still on good terms, are you not?"

"I am, but he isn't. But that is of no consequence. No man in his senses
would ever get angry with St. George, no matter what he might say or
do. He hasn't a friend in the world who could be so ill bred. And as to
calling him out--you would as soon think of challenging your wife. St.
George talks from his heart, never his head. I have loved him for thirty
years and know exactly what I am talking about--and yet let me tell
you, Gorsuch, that with all his qualities--and he is the finest-bred
gentleman I know--he can come closer to being a natural born fool than
any man of his years and position in Kennedy Square. This treatment of
my son--whom I am trying to bring up a gentleman--is one proof of
it, and this putting all his eggs into one basket--and that a rotten
basket--is another."

"Well, then--if that is your feeling about it, colonel, why not go and
see him? As I have said, he needs all the friends he's got at a time
like this." If he could bring the two men together the boy might
come home. Not to be able to wave back to Harry as he dashed past on
Spitfire, had been a privation which the whole settlement had felt.
"That is, of course," he continued, "if St. George Temple would be
willing to receive you. He would be--wo