as to the avoidance of displays of emotion, nevertheless he had
been for a long time in lands far from home, where the habits of
impulsive and affectionate peoples were radically unlike our own
austerer forms. So now, under the spur of an impulse suggested
by the dalliance with the buxom secretary, he grinned widely and
went to his father.

"A little kiss never hurts any one," he declared, blithely. Then
he added vivaciously: "Here, I'll show you!"

With the words, he clasped his arms around his father's neck,
and, before that amazed gentleman could understand his purpose,
he had kissed soundly first the one cheek and then the other,
each with a hearty, wholesome smack of filial piety. This done,
he stood back, still beaming happily, while the astounded Sarah
tittered bewilderedly. For his own part, Dick was quite
unashamed. He loved his father. For once, he had expressed that
fondness in a primitive fashion, and he was glad.

The older man withdrew a step, and there rested motionless, under
the sway of an emotion akin to dismay. He stood staring intently
at his son with a perplexity in his expression that was almost
ludicrous. When, at last, he spoke, his voice was a rumble of
strangely shy pleasure.

"God bless my soul!" he exclaimed, violently. Then he raised a
hand, and rubbed first one cheek, and after it its fellow, with a
gentleness that was significant. The feeling provoked by the
embrace showed plainly in his next words. "Why, that's the first
time you have kissed me, Dick, since you were a little boy. God