CHAPTER XIII.
Mr.Dale had been more than a quarter of an hour conversing with Mrs.
Avenel, and had seemingly made little progress in the object of his diplomatic mission, for now, slowly drawing on his gloves, he said,-- "I grieve to think, Mrs.Avenel, that you should have so hardened your heart--yes, you must pardon me,--it is my vocation to speak stern truths.

You cannot say that I have not kept faith with you, but I must now invite you to remember that I specially reserved to myself the right of exercising a discretion to act as I judged best for the child's interest on any future occasion; and it was upon this understanding that you gave me the promise, which you would now evade, of providing for him when he came to manhood." "I say I will provide for him.

I say that you may 'prentice him in any distant town, and by and by we will stock a shop for him.

What would you have more, sir, from folks like us, who have kept shop ourselves?
It ain't reasonable what you ask, sir." "My dear friend," said the parson, "what I ask of you at present is but to see him, to receive him kindly, to listen to his conversation, to judge for yourselves.

We can have but a common object,--that your grandson should succeed in life, and do you credit.