"Altogether," said Richard, rising reluctantly at last, as the tall old
clock on the landing near-by slowly boomed out the hour of midnight,
"it's been a great day for me. I'd been looking forward with quite a bit
of dread to bringing you up, I knew you'd see so plainly wherever we
were lacking; but you were so splendidly kind about it--"
"And why shouldn't I be kind, Dick?" spoke his grandfather eagerly.
"What have I in the world to interest me as you and your affairs
interest me? Can any possible stroke of fortune seem so great to me as
your development into a manhood of accomplishment? And when it is in the
very world I know so well and have so near my heart--"
Richard interrupted him, not realizing that he was doing so, but full of
longing to make all still further clear between them. "Grandfather, I
want to make a confession. This world of yours--I didn't want to enter
it."
"I know you didn't, Dick. And I know why. But you are getting over that,
aren't you? You are beginning to realize that it isn't what a man does,
but the way he does it, that matters."
"Yes," said Richard slowly. "Yes, I'm beginning to realize that.
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