Chapter XX

           Freckles’voiceceased,hiseyesclosed,andhisheadrolledbackfromexhaustion.LaterinthedayheinsistedonseeingLordandLadyO’More,buthefaintedbeforetheresemblanceofanothermantohim,andgaveallofhisfriendsaterriblefright.

           Thenextmorning,theManofAffairs,withaheartfilledwithmisgivings,undertooktheinterviewonwhichFrecklesinsisted.Hisfearswerewithoutcause.Freckleswasthesoulofhonorandsimplicity.

           “Havetheybeentellingyouwhat’scometome?”heaskedwithoutevenwaitingforagreeting.

           “Yes,”saidtheAngel’sfather.

           “Doyouthinkyouhavetheveryworstofitcleartoyourunderstanding?”

           UnderFreckles’earnesteyestheManofAffairsansweredsoberly:“IthinkIhave,Mr.O’More.”

           ThatwasthefirsttimeFrecklesheardhisnamefromthelipsofanother.Onesecondhelayovercome;thenext,tearsfilledhiseyes,andhereachedouthishand.ThentheAngel’sfatherunderstood,andheclaspedthathandandhelditinastrong,firmgrasp.

           “Terence,myboy,”hesaid,“letmedothetalking.Icameherewiththeunderstandingthatyouwantedtoaskmeformyonlychild.Ishouldlike,atthepropertime,toregardhermarriage,ifshehasfoundthemanshedesirestomarry,notaslosingallIhave,butasgainingamanonwhomIcandependtoloveasasonandtotakechargeofmyaffairsforherwhenIretirefrombusiness.Bendallofyourenergiestowardrapidrecovery,andfromthishourunderstandthatmydaughterandmyhomeareyours.”

           “You’renotforgettingthis?”

           Frecklesliftedhisrightarm.