Chapter 28

           ImadewhatchangeIcouldinmyappearance;andblithewasItolookintheglassandfindthebeggarmanathingofthepast,andDavidBalfourcometolifeagain.AndyetIwasashamedofthechangetoo,and,aboveall,oftheborrowedclothes.WhenIhaddone,Mr.Rankeillorcaughtmeonthestair,mademehiscompliments,andhadmeagainintothecabinet.

           “Sityedown,Mr.David,”saidhe,“andnowthatyouarelookingalittlemorelikeyourself,letmeseeifIcanfindyouanynews.Youwillbewondering,nodoubt,aboutyourfatherandyouruncle?Tobesureitisasingulartale;andtheexplanationisonethatIblushtohavetoofferyou.For,”sayshe,reallywithembarrassment,“thematterhingesonaloveaffair.”

           “Truly,”saidI,“Icannotverywelljointhatnotionwithmyuncle.”

           “Butyouruncle,Mr.David,wasnotalwaysold,”repliedthelawyer,“andwhatmayperhapssurpriseyoumore,notalwaysugly.Hehadafine,gallantair;peoplestoodintheirdoorstolookafterhim,ashewentbyuponamettlehorse.Ihaveseenitwiththeseeyes,andIingenuouslyconfess,notaltogetherwithoutenvy;forIwasaplainladmyselfandaplainman’sson;andinthosedaysitwasacaseofOdite,quibelluses,Sabelle.”

           “Itsoundslikeadream,”saidI.

           “Ay,ay,”saidthelawyer,“thatishowitiswithyouthandage.Norwasthatall,buthehadaspiritofhisownthatseemedtopromisegreatthingsinthefuture.