Page 392 (1/2)

Left alone with his son, John Barty sat a while staring up at the

bell-o

off at any moment; at last, however, he rose also, hesitated, laid

down his pipe upon the lanced up at the blunderbuss again and finally spoke: "And remember this, Barnabas, your--your--reat lady, but I retted it, lad Ye see, Barnabas, when a good woman

really loves a man--that man is the only man in the world for her,

and--nothing else ood love,

d' ye see--ood wo, and may lift a man above all

cares and sorrows and h as heaven at last,

and--well--there y' are, Barnabas, dear lad"

Having said this, the longest speech Barnabas ever heard his father

utter, John Barty laid his great hand lightly upon his son's bent

head and treading very softly, for a man of his inches, followed

Natty Bell out of the roo into the fire and lost in

thought, he becaain,

doubt of hi him of his

father's last words, it seemed to him that he had indeed chosen the