Minnows & Tritons Volume 129 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ... A Token of Esteem WHEN Roger Ford was invited to tea at the Tyrells', they all resolved to be very kind to him; but within five minutes of his arrival, with one exception, they had forgotten this completely and were treating him as one of themselves. At the tea-table he was allowed an equal share of the conversation, but no more. Each of the Tyrell boys (as their wont was) talked the whole time, and their visitor was at liberty to do the same. On these terms, as on any other, the Rabbit was quite equal to holding his own. But perhaps he was favoured in the direction of the conversation. Max, for example, made himself hoarse trying to catch the visitor's ear. He recalled episodes of his youth, describing himself as he was at young Ford's age, without a trace of self-patronage. Walter and Claude, who caught snatches of their elder brother's vociferous confidences, were aghast at his condescension. If the visitor had not been entirely absorbed in what he himself was saying, he would have been greatly interested. Mrs. Tyrell alone maintained the altruistic attitude. Her idea of the lower classes was that they were people to be given things to. After tea she marched Roger Ford up to her bedroom, and gave him a parcel of collars and socks, and also a still presentable sailor suit of Claude's. "You won't want the things you are wearing, again," she said, "so you can make the change at once." Mrs. Tyrell left the visitor to himself for a quarter of an hour; and when she returned the change had been effected. To her own surprise, as much as to the child's, she stooped down and kissed him. Now that he was dressed like one of her own sons, she no longer saw in her protege a representative of a class, but a little boy with no mother to scold him and...