Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 68: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A VONFIDENTIAL TALK. 59 gelic,’’ rejoined the other, rising and leaning against the chimney. ‘‘Arthur, you have something on your mind.’ ‘The duse you say!’’ returned Arthur, with assumed levity. “‘Thanks for the assumption that I possess that highly prized article, however. Look here, Dick, why are you trying your level best to make a very large mountain of the tiniest of mole-hills?”’ ‘*Mole-hills have been known to spoil the best of lawns in very short order,’’ returned Dick, and then went on, seri- ously: ‘‘Why are you trying to deceive the best and oldest friend you’ve got in the world? NowI ask you is it square? Haven’t we been hand-in-glove ever since you were a boy? Haven’t I given you the benefit of all my experience in this difficult world? Haven’t you confided in me ever since you left college? And have I not taken the same interest in you I would have taken in my own brother, had I been blessed with one? Wherein have I ever failed you? Yet now, when something has gone wrong with you, as I can plainly see, you freeze up and prefer to keep your own counsel. Don’t deny it; I can read you like a book.”’ The younger man’s eyes had sought the floor while his friend was speaking, and when he paused he made no re- sponse. ‘‘You’re unlike yourself,’’ continued Forrest, ‘‘and have been looking seedy for weeks. Yes, every time I’ve seen you lately, I’ve been expecting you to tell me what ails you, but with no result. It’s quite true, my boy, you might find a less cynical confidant than I am—one, perhaps, who would make you feel on better terms with yourself, after- ward, for to most people I am only a heartless, selfish man of the world, and to others a typical club rounder, without a thought beyond my own comfort or a desire more elevat- Gomichbooksnd im