“Well, you let the boy have his chance, and don't you stick in your broken oar,” cried Mahaffy fiercely. The judge rolled over on his back, and stared up at the heavens. “This is a new aspect of your versatile nature, Solomon. Must I regard you as a personally emancipated moral influence, not committed to the straight and narrow path yourself, but still close enough to it to keep my feet from straying?” he at length demanded. Mahaffy having spoken his mind, preserved a stony silence. The judge got up and replenished the camp-fire, which had burnt low, then squatting before it, he peered into the flames. “You'll not deny, Solomon, that Miss Malroy exhibited a real affection for Hannibal?” he began. “Now don't you try to borrow money of her, Price,” said Mahaffy, returning to the attack. “Solomon--Solomon--how can you?” “That'll be your next move. Now let her alone; let Hannibal have his luck as it comes to him.” “You seem to forget, sir, that I still bear the name of gentleman!” said the judge. Mahaffy gave way to acid merriment. “Well, see that you are not tempted to forget that,” he observed. “If I didn't know your sterling qualities, Solomon, and pay homage to 'em, I might be tempted to take offense,” said the judge. “It's like pouring water on a duck's back to talk to you, Price; nothing strikes in.” “On the contrary, I am at all times ready to listen to reason from any quarter, but I've studied this matter in its many-sided aspect. I won't say we might not do better in Memphis, but we must consider the boy. No; if I can find a vacant house in Raleigh, I wouldn't ask a finer spot in which to spend the afternoon of my life.” “Afternoon?” snapped Mahaffy irritably. “That's right--carp--! But you can't relegate me! You can't shove me away from the portal of hope--metaphorically speaking, I'm on the stoop; it may be God's pleasure that I enter; there's a place for gray heads--and there's a respectable slice of life after the meridian is passed.” “Humph!” said Mahaffy. “I've made my impression; I've been thrown with cultivated minds quick to recognize superiority; I've met with deference and consideration.”