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Barnabas smiled and shook his head

"Listen, father," said he, "it has always been the dream and

aher

place in the world--to be a gentleilist, as you and Natty Bell desired, this hy I

worked and studied--ah! a great deal harder than you ever

guessed--though up till to-day I hardly dared hope my dreao to London and be a gentle o' fool book! Why, Lord! you

can no entleman than I can or the--blunderbuss yonder

And because why? Because a gentleentleman born, and

his father afore him, and his father afore hiland, an' that should be enough

for most lads; but your head's chock full o' fool's notions an'

crazy fancies, an' as your lawful father it's ain, Barnabas , John Barty proceeded to

take off his coat and belcher neckerchief, and rolled his shirt

sleeves over hisBarnabas to do the like

"A father's duty be a very sole, Barnabas," he continued

slowly, "an' your 'ead being (as I say) full o' wild idees, I' father should,

so help me back wi' the table out o' the road, an' off wi' your coat

and neckercher"

Well knowing the utter futility of argument with his father at such