You may get there yet; I hope so.

But come, sir, are you going to make a decent apology to Prescott and his friends for the contemptible things you've tried to do to them ?" Somehow, Fred Ripley managed to mumble his way through an apology, though he kept his eyes on the floor all the while.

Full of sympathy for the father who, if proud, was at least upright, Dick and his chums accepted that apology, offered their hands, then tip-toed out, leaving father and son together..