As a matter of fact, Neergard is going to be a very rich man some day; and Gerald might have--But I am not displeased.

What appeals to me is the spectacle of the boy acting with conviction on his own initiative.

Whether or not he is making a mistake has nothing to do with the main thing, and that is that Gerald, for the first time in his rather colourless career, seems to have developed the rudiments of a backbone out of the tail which I saw so frequently either flourishing defiance at me or tucked sullenly between his hind legs.

I had quite a talk with him last night; he behaved very decently, and with a certain modesty which may, one day, develop into something approaching dignity.
We spoke of his own affairs--in which, for the first time, he appeared to take an intelligent interest.

Besides that, he seemed willing enough to ask my judgment in several matters--a radical departure from his cub days." "What are you going to do for him, dear ?" asked his wife, rather bewildered at the unexpected news.