Perhaps I might come to like you, too; you
can't tell. Under them circumstances, and with the understanding that
it didn't go no farther, maybe you might give me a glimpse of the lay
of the land. Possibly I might have something to say that would help. I'm
fairly white underneath, if I be sunburned. What do you think about it?"
He didn't answer right off; seemed to be chewing it over. After a spell
he spoke.
"Mr. Wingate," says he, "with the understanding that you mentioned, I
don't mind supposing a case. Suppose you was a chap in college. Suppose
you met a girl in the vicinity that was--well, was about the best ever.
Suppose you came to find that life wasn't worth a continental without
that girl. Then suppose you had a dad with money, lots of money. Suppose
the old fo--the gov'nor, I mean--without even seeing her or even
knowing her name or a thing about her, said no. Suppose you and the old
gentleman had a devil of a row, and broke off for keeps. Then suppose
the girl wouldn't listen to you under the circumstances. Talked rot
about 'wasted future' and 'throwing your life away' and so on. Suppose,
when you showed her that you didn't care a red for futures, she ran
away from you and wouldn't tell where she'd gone. Suppose--well, I guess
that's enough supposing. I don't know why I'm telling you these things,
anyway."
He stopped and scowled at the floor, acting like he was sorry he spoke.
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