The Amateur Gentleman

"Never mind what I said then, father, I was very young. To-day,

since I never can be a gentleman, I have come home so that you may

teach me to be a man. And believe me," he continued more lightly as

he glanced from the thoughtful brow of Natty Bell to the gloom on his

father's handsome face, "oh, believe me--I have no regrets,

none--none at all."

"Natty Bell," said John ponderously, and with his gaze still fixed

intently upon the blunderbuss, "what do you say to that?"

"Why I say, John, as I believe as our lad aren't speaking the truth

for once."

"Indeed, I shall be very happy," said Barnabas, hastily, "for I've

done with dreaming, you see. I mean to be very busy, to--to devote

my money to making us all happy. I have several ideas already, my

head is full of schemes."

"Man Jack," said Natty Bell, puffing thoughtfully at his pipe,

"what do you say to that?"

"Why," answered John, "I say Natty Bell, as it be my belief as our

dear lad's nob be full o' only one idee, and that idee is--a woman.

Ah, and always will be and--there y'are, Natty Bell."

"For one thing," Barnabas went on more hastily than before,

"I'm going to carry out the improvements you suggested years ago for

the dear old 'Hound,' father--and you and I, Natty, might buy the

farm next door, it's for sale I know, and go in for raising horses.

You often talked of it in the old days. Come, what do you say?" he

inquired, seeing that neither of his hearers spoke or moved, and

wondering a little that his proposals should fall so flat. "What do

you think, Natty Bell?"

"Well," answered Natty Bell, "I think, Barnabas, since you ax me so

pointed-like, that you'd do much better in taking a wife and raising

children."

"Ah--why not, lad?" nodded his father. "It be high time as you was

thinking o' settling down, so--why not get married and ha' done with

it?"

"Because," answered Barnabas, frowning at the fire, "I can love only

one woman in this world, and she is altogether beyond my reach,

and--never can be mine--never."

"Ha!" said Natty Bell getting up and staring down into the fire,

"Hum!"

'Since boxing is a manly game

And Britain's recreation,

By boxing we will raise our fame

'Bove every other nation.' "Remember this, Barnabas, when a woman sets her mind on anything,

I've noticed as she generally manages to--get it, one way or t' other.

So I wouldn't be too sure, if I was you." Saying which, he nodded to

John, above his son's drooping head, winked, and went silently out

of the room.