174 THE SOUTH BAY. 



were soiled while we were fishing." Strictly true, 

 but not all the truth. 



" The deacon across the way came home rather 

 muddy, they say. What luck did you have ? Did 

 it rain while you were out ? There'was not a cloud 

 to be seen in Nw York." 



The father felt it would be useless to evade the 

 question, and related the whole story, bearing kind- 

 ly the good-natured comments of his son, between 

 whom and himself there was a feeling of friendship 

 as well as of affection. 



" And now, father," Harry began, after the recital 

 was over, " and now how are you going to make up ? 

 You will have to make the first step, because you 

 were not in the wrong." 



"Or, more truly, because my son loves the 

 daughter of the person who has ill-used me. Are 

 you not angry at my being left to walk home this 

 hot day ? " 



" I should be, if that wagon had not come along ; 

 everything depends on that wagon. You know it 

 was much pleasanter than riding with an angry 

 man." 



" But then the dust ; my clothes are ruined ; a 

 new suit will diminish your patrimony, which is not 

 enormous." 



" Then I'll make you a present of a splendid suit 

 of black on my wedding day. I am rich, at least in 

 expectation, being a partner and no longer a clerk." 



" To tell the truth," continued the father, drop- 

 ping the tone of badinage, " I did feel ashamed of 



