Many lads would have been spoiled by so much attention; and so it is
only fair to say at the outset that "Robbie" was never spoiled; that to
the end of his days he was what is known as "a good fellow," and that it
was only when he could not have what he wanted that anger ever appeared
in his eyes.
Before many more years he went away to a great rich school, followed by
the prayers of a family, and by the valet and the groom. There he had a
suite of rooms, and two horses, and a pair of dogs with pedigrees longer
than his own; and there he learned to smoke a brand of choice
cigarettes, and to play poker, and to take a proper interest in
race-track doings. There also, just when he was ready to come away and
to take a great college by storm, Robbie met with an exciting
adventure. This is a work of realism, and works of realism always go
into detail as to such matters; and so it must be explained that Robbie
fell desperately in love with a pretty girl who lived in the country
near the school; and that Robbie was young and handsome and wealthy and
witty, and by no means disposed to put up with not having his own way;
and that he had it; and that when he came to leave school, the girl fled
from home and followed him; and that there were some blissful months in
the city, and then some complications; and that when the crisis came
Robbie was just on the point of getting married when the curiosity of
his father was excited by his heavy financial demands; and, finally,
that Mr. Chauncey van Rensselaer and Mr. Robert van Rensselaer held an
interview in the former's study.
"Now, Robbie," said he, "how long has this been going on?"
"About a year, sir," said Robbie, gazing at the floor.
"A year? Humph! And why didn't you tell me about it when you first got
into trouble?"
"I--I didn't like to," said Robbie.
"To be sure," said the father, "boys have no business in such scrapes;
but still, when you get in them, it is your duty to tell me. And so you
want to get married?"
"I--I love her," said the other, turning various shades of red as he
found the words sounding queer.
"But, Robbie," protested van Rensselaer _pere_, "one doesn't marry all
the women one loves."
Then, after a little pause, the father continued gravely, "Now, my boy,
tell me where she is, and I'll arrange it for you."
Robbie started. "You won't be cross to her?" he pleaded.
"Of course not," said the father. "I am never cross with any one. It
will all be settled happily, I promise you."
And so a day or two later it was announced that Robbie was going abroad
for a year's tour; and when he sought Daisy to bid her good-by, it was
reported that Daisy had left for the West--a circumstance which caused
Robbie several days' anxiety.