Your father
is a man for whom we in our country have a great respect. I think,
sir, you must be proud of such a father.'
'Oh yes,--no doubt,' said Silverbridge awkwardly. Then Mr Boncassen
continued his discourse with the gentlemen around him. Upon this
our friend turned to the young lady. 'Have you been long in
England, Miss Boncassen?'
'Long enough to have heard about you and your father,' she said,
speaking with no slightest twang.
'I hope you have not heard evil of me.'
'Well!'
'I'm sure you can't have heard much good.'
'I know you didn't win the Derby.'
'You've been long enough to hear that.'
'Do you suppose we don't interest ourselves about the Derby in New
York? Why, when we arrived at Queenstown I was leaning over the
taffrail so that I might ask the first man on board the tender
whether the Prime Minister had won.'
'And he said he hadn't.'
'I can't conceive why you of all men should call your horse by
such a name. If my father had been President of the United States,
I don't think I'd call a horse President.
Pages:
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386