From there he said, in a low
tone:
"And by the way, Bab, I think, since you bought me the Tie,
it would be rather nice to get your mother somthing also. How
about it? Violets, you know, or--or somthing."
Ye gods! Violets at five dollars a hundred. But I agreed.
I then sat up in bed and said:
"Father, what would you say if you knew some one was
decieving you?"
"Well," he said, "I am an old Bird and hard to decieve. A
good many people think they can do it, however, and now and then
some one gets away with it."
I felt softened and repentent. Had he but patted me once
more, I would have told all. But he was looking for a match for
his cigar, and the opportunaty passed.
"Well," he said, "close up that active brain of yours for
the night, Bab, and here are to `don'ts' to sleep on. Don't
break your neck in--in any way. You're a reckless young Lady.
And don't elope with the first moony young idiot who wants to
hold your hand. There will quite likly be others."
Others! How heartless! How cynical! Were even those I love
best to worldly to understand a monogamous Nature?
When he had gone out, I rose to hide my Check Book in the
crown of an old hat, away from Hannah.
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