"A proper allowance!" repeated his father, in tones of blighting sarcasm, for the expression was not new to him. "I have never grudged you money for any proper purpose."
"No doubt, no doubt," said Alexander, "but then you see you aren't always on the spot to have the thing explained to you. Last night, for instance--"
"You could have wakened me last night," interrupted his father.
"Was it not some similar affair that first got John into a mess?" asked the son, skilfully evading the point.
But the father was not less adroit. "And pray, sir, how did you come and go out of the house?" he asked.
"I forgot to lock the door, it seems," replied Alexander.
"I have had cause to complain of that too often," said Mr. Nicholson. "But still I do not understand. Did you keep the servants up?"
"I propose to go into all that at length after breakfast," returned Alexander. "There is the half-hour going; we must not keep Miss Mackenzie waiting."
Even Alexander, who, it must have been perceived, was on terms of comparative freedom with his parent--even Alexander had never before dared to cut short an interview in this high-handed fashion. But the truth is, the very mass of his son's delinquencies daunted the old gentleman. He was like the man with the cart of apples--this was beyond him! That Alexander should have spoiled his table, taken his money, stayed out all night, and then coolly acknowledged all, was something undreamed of in the Nicholsonian philosophy, and transcended comment. The return of the change, which the old gentleman still carried in his hand, had been a feature of imposing impudence; it had dealt him a staggering blow. Then there was the reference to John's original flight--a subject which he always kept resolutely curtained in his own mind; for he was a man who loved to have made no mistakes, and, when he feared he might have made one, kept the papers sealed. In view of all these surprises and reminders, and of his son's composed and masterful demeanour, there began to creep on Mr. Nicholson a sickly misgiving. He seemed beyond his depth; if he did or said anything, he might come to regret it. The young man, besides, as he had pointed out himself, was playing a generous part. And if wrong had been done--and done to one who was after, and in spite of all, a Nicholson--it should certainly be righted.