But my father could not let things pass
over thus lightly.
"I thank you," he said, "but I have much more to thank you for, and know
not how to do it."
"Can you not trust me to take everything as said?"
"Yes, but I cannot trust myself not to be haunted if I do not say--or at
any rate try to say--some part of what I ought to say."
"Very well; then I will say something myself. I have a small joke, the
only one I ever made, which I inflict periodically upon my wife. You,
and I suppose George, are the only two other people in the world to whom
it can ever be told; let me see, then, if I cannot break the ice with it.
It is this. Some men have twin sons; George in this topsy turvey world
of ours has twin fathers--you by luck, and me by cunning. I see you
smile; give me your hand."
My father took the Mayor's hand between both his own. "Had I been in
your place," he said, "I should be glad to hope that I might have done as
you did."
"And I," said the Mayor, more readily than might have been expected of
him, "fear that if I had been in yours--I should have made it the proper
thing for you to do. There! The ice is well broken, and now for
business. You will lunch with us, and dine in the evening. I have given
it out that you are of good family, so there is nothing odd in this.
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