For myself, I should like to shout it from the house-tops! But we must be discreet; untimely knowledge to our enemy might work incalculable harm." "And how would you suggest, Adam, that we could combine the momentous question with secrecy ?" Adam grew red and moved uneasily.
"Someone must ask her--as soon as possible!" "And that someone ?" "I thought that you, sir, would be so good!" "God bless my soul! This is a new kind of duty to take on--at my time of life.

Adam, I hope you know that you can count on me to help in any way I can!" "I have already counted on you, sir, when I ventured to make such a suggestion.

I can only ask," he added, "that you will be more than ever kind to me--to us--and look on the painful duty as a voluntary act of grace, prompted by kindness and affection." "Painful duty!" "Yes," said Adam boldly.

"Painful to you, though to me it would be all joyful." "It is a strange job for an early morning! Well, we all live and learn.
I suppose the sooner I go the better.

You had better write a line for me to take with me.