As it happened he overtook his friend Peterson just outside the town,
called to him gaily, and invited him to church and breakfast.
To his surprise the young gentleman replied sullenly that he should
certainly not come.
"Not come, old fellow?" said Alfred, hurt.
"You have a good cheek to ask me," retorted the other.
This led to an explanation. Peterson's complaint was that he had told
Alfred he was in love with Julia, and Alfred had gone directly and fallen
in love with her just to cut him out.
"What are you talking about?" said Alfred. "So this is the reason you
have kept away from me of late: why, I was engaged to her at the very
time; only my father was keeping us apart."
"Then why didn't you say so?"
"Because my love is not of the prattling sort."
"Oh, nonsense; I don't believe a word of it."
"You don't believe my word! Did you ever know me tell a lie? At that rate
think what you please, sir: drive on, Strabo."
And so ended that little friendship.
On the road our ardent youth arranged in his head a noble scheme. He
would bring Peggy Black home with him, compensating her liberally for the
place she would thereby lose: would confront her privately with his
father, and convince him it was his interest to restore the Dodds their
money with a good grace, take the L.
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