"

With which beginning Sir Archibald most heartily agreed. "But how do you
know?"

"Now, let me tell you about him." And Miss Brodie proceeded to describe
the scene between father and son in Mr. Rae's office, with vigorous and
illuminating comments. "And just think, the man in the company who was
first to condemn the young chap was his own father. Would you do that?
You'd stand for him against the whole world, even if he were wrong."

"Steady, steady, lass!"

"You would," repeated Miss Bessie, with indignant emphasis. "Would you
chuck me over if I were disgraced and all the world hounding me? Would
you?"

"No, by God!" said Sir Archibald in a sudden tempest of emotion, and
Miss Bessie smiled lovingly upon him.

"Well, that's the kind of a father he has. Now about the young fellow
himself: He's just a first-class fool, like most young fellows. You know
how they are, Uncle."

Sir Archibald held up his hand. "Don't make any such assumptions."

"Oh, I know you, and when you were a boy you were just as gay and
foolish as the rest of them."

Her arch, accusing smile suddenly cast a rich glow of warm colour
over the long, grey road of Sir Archibald's youth of self-denial
and struggle. The mild indulgences of his early years, under the
transforming influence of that same arch and accusing smile, took on for
Sir Archibald such an aspect of wild and hilarious gaiety as to impart a
tone of hesitation to his voice while he deprecated his niece's charge.

"What, I? Nonsense! What do you know about it? Well, well, we have all
had our day, I suppose!"

"Aha! I know you, and I should love to have known you when you were
young Cameron's age. Though I'm quite sure you were never such a fool as
he. You always knew how to take care of yourself."

Her uncle shook his head as if to indicate that the less said about
those gay young days the better.

"Now what do you think this young fool does? Gets drinking, and gets so
muddled up in all his money matters--he's a Highlander, you know, and
Dunn, Mr. Dunn says--"

"Dunn!"

"Yes, Mr. Dunn, the great International captain, you know! Mr. Dunn says
he can take a whole bottle of Scotch--"

"What, Dunn?"

"No, no; you know perfectly well, Uncle! This young Cameron can take
a whole bottle of Scotch and walk a crack, but his head gets awfully
muddled."

"Shouldn't be surprised!"

"And Mr. Dunn had a terrible time keeping him fit for the International.
You know he was Dunn's