in any defect of my own. "It may be that you achieve a certain degree of spiritual enlightenment in producing a book entitled 'The Purple Kangaroo.' I hope so, though I have not read it. Nor do I wholly agree with your good aunt, who contends that the title savours too much of the Apocrypha, and I say nothing of the undesirable popularity you seem to have attained in the United States. I only ask you to come home. "As a proof of her reconciliation, your aunt[Pg 143] included a copy of your book in her last mission box to the Ojibway Indians. I shall always be glad to receive and make welcome any of your friends at the palace, no matter how different their tastes and principles may be to my own well-defined course of action. [Pg 143] "In the hope of better things, "Your affectionate Father." "Your affectionate Father." Your affectionate Father "Of course you'll go," Violet said softly. "Oh, I don't know about that," he replied. "I do," she returned. "It's your duty. What a dear old chap he must be!—so thoroughly prosy and honest. I'm sure I should love him. I know just the sort of man he is. A downright Nonconformist minister of the midland counties, who was consecrated a Bishop by mistake." Cecil paused a minute, thinking it over. "How about the others?" he said. "Ah, yes," she replied, "the others. But perhaps you don't class them as your friends." "Oh, it isn't that," he answered. "Only I was wondering—" "What the Bishop would say?" she asked,[Pg 144] looking at him with a roguish smile. "Well, why not take him at his word and find out." [Pg 144]
Prev.
Back
Top