THE STEADFAST HEART
there—with me—or I sha’n’t let you go…. You’re my boy, Angus—my son!… Mr. Woodhouse can have your days—but we’ll sleep under the same roof.” The boy gulped and looked out of the window.
“I’ll go….” he said.
“I knew you would…. I’m glad.”
“But,” said Angus after a prolonged silence, “what will—everybody say? Won’t folks be afraid? In the bank? About their money—you know—about their money?”
“Don’t ever say a thing like that again,” said Dave fiercely.
“But—”
“If anybody hints at such a thing in your hearing, I don’t care who or when or where, and you don’t thrash him, I’ll thrash you. Remember that…. When you go to work for Mr. Woodhouse forget everything in your life but that—and me. Make up your mind you are the equal of everybody and better than most. Make up your mind to show ’em all. Climb! Climb higher than any of them. You’re a first-class man, Angus, so act as if you knew it. A show of confidence in yourself is half the battle. You do know it, don’t you?”
Again Angus hesitated. “Yes,” he said presently.
Dave changed the subject. “You’ve never told
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