ok here. You're a boy--smart lad too, with plenty of brains,"
continued the doctor, who had noticed Andrew's sneer; "sensible sort of
boy--not a dandy, gilded vane, like Forbes here. Ah! don't you look at
me like that, sir, or next time you're sick I'll give you such a dose as
shall make you smile the other way."

"Come along, Frank," said the lad angrily. "You wait a minute. I
haven't done with him yet. Look here, boy," he continued, clapping
Frank on the shoulder; "there's nothing a man and a father likes better
than a good, natural, straightforward, manly sort of boy. I don't mean
a fellow who spends half his time scenting himself, brushing his hair to
make it curl, and looking at himself in the glass.--Here, hallo! what's
the matter with you, Forbes? I didn't say you did. Pavement warm? Cat
on hot bricks is nothing to you."

Andrew tightened his lips, and the doctor went on.

"Look here, Gowan; I tell you what I'd do if I were you. I should just
wait for my chance--you'll get plenty--and then I should go right in
front of the King, dump myself down on one knee, and when he asks you
what you want, tell him bluntly, like a manly boy should, to forgive
your father, who is as brave an officer as ever cried `Forward!' to a
company of soldiers."

"Bah!" ejaculated Andrew.

"Bo!" cried the doctor. "Good-looking gander! What do you know about
it?--You ask him. As the offended king, he may feel ready to say _no_;
but as the man and father, he'll very likely be ready to say _yes_."

"Oh, I never thought of that!" cried Frank excitedly.

"Then think about it now, my boy. That's my prescription for a very
sore case. You do it and win; and if your mother doesn't think she's
got the best son in the world, I'm a Dutchman, and we've got plenty
without."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, doctor!" cried Frank.

"Wish you luck, boy. Do that, and you may be as proud as a peacock
afterward--proud as Andrew Forbes here, and that's saying a deal."

The doctor nodded to them both, took a fresh pinch of snuff loudly, and
went off.

"Bah!" growled Andrew, as he went off at a great rate toward the Park.
"Ridiculous! How can an English gentleman advise such a degrading
course. Go down on your knees to that Dutchman, and beg!"

"I'd go down on my face to him, Drew," cried Frank excitedly.

"You won't follow out his advice?"

"I will, and when everybody is there," cried Frank. "He's right, and I
believe that the Kin