But stop.

Let me look at you." He held out both hands, took Jim's, spread them apart for a moment with a boyish gesture, and, looking in his face, said half mischievously, half sadly, "Yes, it's the same old Jim Hooker,--unchanged." "But YOU'RE changed,--reg'lar war paint, Big Injin style!" said Hooker, looking up at him with an awkward mingling of admiration and envy.
"Heard you struck it rich with the old man, and was Mister Brant now!" "Yes," said Clarence gently, yet with a smile that had not only a tinge of weariness but even of sadness in it.
Unfortunately, the act, which was quite natural to Clarence's sensitiveness, and indeed partly sprang from some concern in his old companion's fortunes, translated itself by a very human process to Hooker's consciousness as a piece of rank affectation.

HE would have been exalted and exultant in Clarence's place, consequently any other exhibition was only "airs." Nevertheless, at the present moment Clarence was to be placated.
"You didn't mind my telling that story about your savin' Susy as my own, did ye ?" he said, with a hasty glance over his shoulder.

"I only did it to fool the old man and women-folks, and make talk.

You won't blow on me?
Ye ain't mad about it ?" It had crossed Clarence's memory that when they were both younger Jim Hooker had once not only borrowed his story, but his name and personality as well.