Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/152

 you might say, so that one day I may follow in his footsteps."

"An actor," said the dubious Joe. He didn't mind actors personally, but impersonally he didn't quite hold with the stage.

"Not exactly," said the young man coolly, but with a smile. "And yet he is in his way. In fact, you might call him a prince of comedians."

"I'm sorry, sir." Sergeant Kelly measured each word carefully. "But I'm afraid that's only a very little in his favor."

"I'm sorry, too," said Jack. "My uncle is a duke, and the deuce of it is, I have to succeed him."

"A duke!" Sergeant Kelly's tone of rather pained surprise made it clear that such a romantic circumstance greatly altered the aspect of the case. It also implied that he was far from approving an ill-timed jest on a sacred subject. His brow knitted to a heavy frown. "Well, sir, I can only say that if such is the case you have no right to come a-courting our Mary."

"For why not, Sergeant Kelly?"

"You know why not, sir, as well as I do. She's a fine gal, although I say it who ought not, but that will not put her right with your friends. They will expect you to take a wife of your own sort."

"But that's rather my look-out, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir, it is," said Joe, with the air of a warrior, "but as you have asked me, there's my opinion. The aristocracy's the aristocracy, the middle-class is the middle-class, and the lower orders are the lower orders—there they are and you can't alter 'em. At least, that's my view of the matter."