The fact is, just when Sarah was prophesying all those wonderful things that might be in store for Brutus, from being a great soldier, or an eloquent parson who could frighten people into repenting of their sins, I took stock of all that junk the boy's gone and collected, and do you know, I was thinking that the chances were he'd make a successful hustler in the 'rags, old iron, old clothes' line, when he grew up." Hugh also laughed on hearing that.
"Nobody can tell," he went on to say.

"The veil of the future hides such things from our mortal eyes, as Dominie Pettigrew said the other Sunday.

Brutus may turn out to be a wonder; and again there's a chance of his being only an ordinary day laborer." "Well, if he keeps on taking risks just to show off before the girls," observed Thad, drily, "I rather guess he won't grow up at all, but die young.

But I'll leave you here, Hugh, as I have a date with some one for half-past four this afternoon." "Oh! is that so ?" chuckled the other; "well, go along, and don't bother making excuses.

I wouldn't have you break an appointment with Ivy for anything." "You're away off this time, Hugh, for it happens that it isn't Ivy Middleton, or any other slip of a girl," Thad hastened to say.
He did not offer to explain, and the other thought he looked somewhat mysterious; but while his curiosity may have been slightly aroused, Hugh did not feel justified in making any further inquiries.