"
"Possibly not, my dear. Did you tell him how the other boys, when you
were at school, used sometimes to say you were son to this man Higgs, and
that the people of Sunch'ston used to say so also, till the Mayor
trounced two or three people so roundly that they held their tongues for
the future?"
"Not all that, but I said that silly people had believed me to be the
Sunchild's son, and what a disgrace I should hold it to be son to such an
impostor."
"What did he say to this?"
"He asked whether I should feel the disgrace less if Higgs were to undo
the mischief he had caused by coming back and shewing himself to the
people for what he was. But he said it would be no use for him to do so,
inasmuch as people would kill him but would not believe him."
"And you said?"
"Let him come back, speak out, and chance what might befall him. In that
case, I should honour him, father or no father."
"And he?"
"He asked if that would be a bargain; and when I said it would, he
grasped me warmly by the hand on Higgs's behalf--though what it could
matter to him passes my comprehension."
"But he saw that even though Higgs were to shew himself and say who he
was, it would mean death to himself and no good to any one else?"
"Perfectly."
"Then he can have meant nothing by shaking hands with you.
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