It's all right." "And, Mr.Van Boozenberg, I am pleased to introduce to you my son Abel, who has just entered the house." Abel rose and bowed.
"Have you been in the store ?" asked the old gentleman.
"No, Sir, I've been at school." "What! to school till now?
Why, you must be twenty years old!" exclaimed Mr.Van Boozenberg, in great surprise.
"Yes, Sir, in my twentieth year." "Why, Mr.Newt," said Mr.Van B., with the air of a man who is in entire perplexity, "what on earth has your boy been doing at school until now ?" "It was his grandfather's will, Sir," replied Boniface Newt.
"Well, well, a great pity! a werry great pity! Ma wanted one of our boys to go to college.

Ma, sez I, what on earth should Corlaer go to college for?
To get learnin', pa, sez ma.

To get learnin'! sez I.I'll get him learnin', sez I, down to the store, Werry well, sez ma.

Werry well, sez I, and so 'twas; and I think I done a good thing by him." Mr.Van Boozenberg talked at much greater length of his general intercourse with ma.

Mr.Boniface Newt regarded him more and more contemptuously.
But the familiar style of the old gentleman's conversation begot a corresponding familiarity upon the part of Mr.Newt.