“I conclude everybody else is in the same predicament,” broke in Conyers, bluntly. “Not exactly, young gentleman,--not exactly. I think I could, perhaps, explain--” “No, no; never mind it. I 'm the stupidest fellow in the world at a nice distinction; besides, I'll take your word for the fact. You have heard of my father, have n't you?” “I heard of him so late as last night, from a brother officer of yours, Captain Stapylton.” “Where did you meet Stapylton?” asked Conyers, quickly. “At Sir Charles Cobham's. I was presented to him by my daughter, and he made the most kindly inquiries after you, and said that, if possible, he'd come over here to-day to see you.” “I hope he won't; that's all,” muttered Conyers. Then, correcting himself suddenly, he said: “I mean, I scarcely know him; he has only joined us a few months back, and is a stranger to every one in the regiment. I hope you did n't tell him where I was.” “I'm afraid that I did, for I remember his adding, 'Oh! I must carry him off. I must get him back to headquarters.'” “Indeed! Let us see if he will. That's the style of these 'Company's' officers,--he was in some Native corps or other,--they always fancy they can bully a subaltern; but Black Stapylton will find himself mistaken this time.” “He was afraid that you had not fallen into skilful hands; and, of course, it would not have come well from me to assure him of the opposite.” “Well, but what of Tom, doctor? You have given me no answer.” “It is a case for reflection, my dear young friend, if I may be emboldened to call you so. It is not a matter I can say yes or no to on the instant. I have only two grown-up children: my daughter, the most affectionate, the most thoughtful of girls, educated, too, in a way to grace any sphere--” “You need n't tell me that Tom is a wild fellow,” broke in Conyers,--for he well understood the antithesis that was coming; “he owned it all to me, himself. I have no doubt, too, that he made the worst of it; for, after all, what signifies a dash of extravagance, or a mad freak or two? You can't expect that we should all be as wise and as prudent and as cool-headed as Black Stapylton.” “You plead very ably, young gentleman,” said Dill, with his smoothest accent, “but you must give me a little time.” “Well, I'll give you till to-morrow,--to-morrow, at this hour; for it wouldn't be fair to the poor fellow to keep him in a state of uncertainty. His heart is set on the plan; he told me so.” “I 'll do my best to meet your wishes, my dear young gentleman; but please to bear in mind that it is the whole future fate of my son I am about to decide. Your father may not, possibly, prove so deeply interested as you are; he may--not unreasonably, either--take a colder view of this project; he may chance to form a lower estimate of my poor boy than it is your good nature to have done.”