However, she only said—-
"It was high time that you came away; you were quite knocked up with
being left a week alone with Lucas in that horrid place. I can't
think how your aunt came to think of it."
"She didn't think," said John, bluntly. "It was only a week, and it
couldn't be helped. Besides it was rather jolly."
"But it knocked you up."
"Oh! that was only a notion of the doctor and my aunt. They said I
was done up first because I caught cold, and I was glad to wait a day
or two longer at Leukerbad, in hopes Allen and Bobus would have come
out before I went."
"They come out! Not they!" said the Colonel. "'Tis not the way of
young men nowadays to give up anything for their fathers and mothers.
No, no, Bobus can't spare a week from his reading-party, but must
leave his mother to a set of chance acquaintance, and Allen-—whom
poor Caroline always thinks the affectionate one, if he is nothing
else-—can't give up going to gape at the sun at midnight, and Rob was
wanting to make one of their freight of fools, but I told him it was
quite enough to have one son wandering abroad at other people's
expense, when it couldn't be helped; and that I wouldn't have another
unless he was prepared to lay down his share in the yacht, out of his
pay and allowance.
Pages:
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432