"
"Well, suppose I go with you, then?"
"Why, if you like, sir," said the son, with some deprecation.
"Oh, the question is, will HE like?"
"I think he will, sir;" and the father could see that
his son was very much pleased.
Lapham was rending an impatient course through the morning's
news when they appeared at the door of his inner room.
He looked up from the newspaper spread on the desk before him,
and then he stood up, making an indifferent feint of not
knowing that he knew Bromfield Corey by sight.
"Good morning, Colonel Lapham," said the son, and Lapham
waited for him to say further, "I wish to introduce
my father." Then he answered, "Good morning," and added
rather sternly for the elder Corey, "How do you do,
sir? Will you take a chair?" and he pushed him one.
They shook hands and sat down, and Lapham said
to his subordinate, "Have a seat;" but young Corey
remained standing, watching them in their observance of
each other with an amusement which was a little uneasy.
Lapham made his visitor speak first by waiting for him to do so.
"I'm glad to make your acquaintance, Colonel Lapham,
and I ought to have come sooner to do so. My father
in your place would have expected it of a man in my place
at once, I believe. But I can't feel myself altogether
a stranger as it is. I hope Mrs.
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