Stafford has often mentioned you, his closest
chum, and I was almost as anxious to see you as I was to see him."
"You are very kind, Sir Stephen," said Howard--his slow drawl unusually
quickened--for he, too, was touched, though he would have died rather
than have admitted it, by the warmth of Sir Stephen's reception of his
son. "I was afraid that I should be rather _de trop_, if not absolutely
intrusive--"
"Not at all--not at all!" Sir Stephen broke in. "My boy's friends are
mine, especially his own particular pal. You are David and Jonathan,
you two, I know; and Heaven forbid that I should part you! If you'll
consider yourself one of the family, free to come and go just as you
choose, I shall feel grateful to you; yes, that's the word--grateful!"
All this was said in the heartiest way, with the crowd of servants
looking on and listening--though, like well-trained servants, they
appeared both deaf and blind for all the expression that could be seen
in their faces--then Sir Stephen led the way into the drawing-room.
"You've just time to dress," he said, consulting his watch; "your man
Measom has turned up, Stafford.
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