"That's the fellow, is
it?" he repeated. "H'm!"
"I hope you liked the look of him, uncle!" I said.
"The boy is a gentleman anyhow!" he answered.--"You may think whether I
was pleased!--I never saw man carry himself better horseward!" he added
with a smile.
"Then you won't object to his riding Death home again?"
"Not in the least!" he replied. "The man can ride."
"And may I go with him?--that is, if you do not want me!--I wish I could
stay with you!"
"Rather than ride home with him?"
"Yes, indeed, if it were to be of use to you!"
"The only way you can be of use to me, is to ride home with Mr. Day, and
not see him again until I have had a little talk with him. Tyranny may be
a sense of duty, you know, little one!"
"Tyranny, uncle!" I cried, as I laid my cheek to his hand, which was very
cold. "You could not make me think you a tyrant!"
"I should not like you to think me one, darling! Still less would I like
to deserve it, whether you thought me one or not! But I could not be a
tyrant to you if I would. You may defy me when you please."
"That would be to poison my own soul!" I answered.
"You must understand," he continued, "that I have no authority over you.
If you were going to marry Mr. Day to-morrow, I should have no right to
interfere. I am but a make-shift father to you, not a legal guardian."
"Don't cast me off, uncle!" I cried.
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