In their natural, unimpaired state, neither
organ should need artificial aid. But my father was looking at me
now through the mental spectacles of my success, which made to him
hugely big that merit which, before, he could not see at all. Thanks
to those spectacles, an easy indulgence was granted me. Little that
I could do now was wrong. Another man had thought fit to pay me for
my powers. That elevated me in his estimation as the powers
themselves never had done. He had no longer any wish apparently to
oppose me. Since my brains were now authenticated by the seal of a
publisher, he was sufficiently satisfied that they might be trusted
to decide my own life and conduct. However, besides all this, he was
strictly a man of his word, and having promised that, with my
success, all opposition to my marriage would cease, he kept his
conditions, as I had kept mine.
"I am very sorry to be so late," I said, as we drew our chairs to
the table. "I am afraid you have waited for me."
"My dear boy, a few minutes are of no consequence!"
"I had rather a stiff headache last night, and only got to sleep
when it was nearly time to get up. I hope I didn't wake you coming
home last night? That idiot Walters must needs turn out the gas and
go to sleep in the hall. Of course I kicked him over. Did it disturb
you?"
"I should think it was calculated to disturb Walters more than me!"
he returned.
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