He met his father with marked respect and a conciliating manner;
standing, with one hand leaning on the central table, until told to
sit down.
"Thou can hev what ta wants on thy own terms, son Antony."
"Thank you, sir."
"Nay, I want no thanks. I hev only made t' best o' a bad job."
"I hope you may live to see that it is not a bad job, sir. I intend
no dishonor to our name. I am as proud of it as you are. I only desire
to make it a power and an influence, and to give it the honor it
deserves."
"Ay, ay; thou's going to light thy torch at t' sun, no doubt. I hev
heard young men talk afore thee. There is Squire Cawthorpe--he was
at college wi' me--what a grand poem he was going to write! He's master
o' Bagley fox hounds now, and he nivver wrote a line as I heard tell
o'. There's Parson Leveret! He was going to hand in t' millennium,
and now he cares for nowt i' t' world but his tithes and a bottle o'
good port. Howiver, there's no use talking. Whaley will manage t'
business, and when thou art needed he'll go up to London to see thee.
As long as thou art young Squire Hallam I shall continue thy allowance;
when thou hest signed away thy birthright thou wilt hev L50,000, and
nivver another penny-piece from Hallam."
"That is just and right."
"And sooner thou leaves Hallam, and better it will be for both o' us,
I'm sure.
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