The fond parent, you know, eh?
But now let me say again how pleased I am to see you.

Stafford has often mentioned you, his closest chum, and I was almost as anxious to see you as I was to see him." "You are very kind, Sir Stephen," said Howard--his slow drawl unusually quickened--for he, too, was touched, though he would have died rather than have admitted it, by the warmth of Sir Stephen's reception of his son.

"I was afraid that I should be rather _de trop_, if not absolutely intrusive--" "Not at all--not at all!" Sir Stephen broke in.

"My boy's friends are mine, especially his own particular pal.

You are David and Jonathan, you two, I know; and Heaven forbid that I should part you! If you'll consider yourself one of the family, free to come and go just as you choose, I shall feel grateful to you; yes, that's the word--grateful!" All this was said in the heartiest way, with the crowd of servants looking on and listening--though, like well-trained servants, they appeared both deaf and blind for all the expression that could be seen in their faces--then Sir Stephen led the way into the drawing-room.
"You've just time to dress," he said, consulting his watch; "your man Measom has turned up, Stafford.