Sorry! He was stifled with gratitude; he was transforming into his old
self. The familiar tenderness of her voice opened the floodgates of his
heart, and he burst into a louder "Hurrah" than over Griffin's turkey,
and kissed them all around, Mr. Tripple included, and, indeed, the day
had been so successfully employed on the part of that gentleman that his
early entrance into the family was far from problematical--so of course
David did perfectly right.
Polly here broke in, "And, father, it was Tom who brought the note, and
Tom who planned the surprise for you. What did it say, Tom? you can tell
us now."
He laughed quietly, and then said, as if he were reading impressively
from the open sheet to Mr. Griffin himself, and making him writhe under
his coolness,--
"Emanuel Griffin,
"Sir: The connection of my father, David Dubbs, Esq., with your
counting-house, will cease from this day forth.
"Sir, your obedient servant,
"Thomas Dubbs."
_Told by an English Tourist._
"He seemed to be a kind of connecting link between the old times
and the new, and to be, withal, a little antiquated in the taste of
his accomplishments."
_Irving._