Miss
Fordyce generously took its part, saying the poor dog was doing its
duty, and Griff ejaculated, 'If I had been there!'
'It would not have dared to show its teeth, eh?' said my father,
when there was a good deal of banter.
My father, however, came at night with mamma to inspect the hurt and
ask details, and he ended with, 'Well done, Clarence, boy; I am
gratified to see you are acquiring presence of mind, and can act
like a man.'
Clarence smiled when they were gone, saying, 'That would have been
an insult to any one else.'
Emily perceived that he had not come off unscathed, and was much
aggrieved at being bound to silence. 'Well,' she broke out, 'if the
dog goes mad, and Clarence has the hydrophobia, I suppose I may
tell.'
'In that pleasing contingency,' said Clarence smiling. 'Don't you
see, Emily, it is the worst compliment you can pay me not to treat
this as a matter of course?' Still, he was the happier for not
having failed. Whatever strengthened his self-respect and gave him
trust in himself was a stepping-stone.
As to rivalry or competition with Griff, the idea seemingly never
crossed his mind, and envy or jealousy were equally aloof from it.
One subject of thankfulness runs through these recollections--
namely, that nothing broke the tie of strong affection between us
three brothers. Griffith might figure as the 'vary parfite knight,'
the St.
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