See if he don't. It would be death to all his
aristocratic claims to admit it."
"Suppose it were yourself, Oscar?"
"I'd say, 'How are you, cousin? How's the the business?'" answered
Oscar, promptly.
"I believe you would, Oscar. There's nothing of the snob about you."
"I hope not."
"Yet your family stands as high as Fletcher's."
"That's a point I leave to others to discuss," said Oscar. "My
father is universally respected, I am sure, but he rose from the
ranks. He was once a printer's devil, like my friend Harry Walton.
Wouldn't it be ridiculous in me to turn up my nose at Walton, just
because be stands now where my father did thirty years ago? It would
be the same thing as sneering at father."
"Give us your hand, Oscar," said Henry Fairbanks. "You've got no
nonsense about you--I like you."
"I'm not sure whether your compliment is deserved, Henry," said
Oscar, "but if I have any nonsense it isn't of that kind."
"Do you believe Fitz has any suspicion that he has a cousin in the
tin business?"
"No; I don't believe he has. He must know he has poor relations,
living in the country, but he probably thinks as little as possible
about them. As long as they don't intrude themselves upon his
greatness, I suppose he is satisfied."
"And as long as no one suspects that he has any connection with such
plebeians."
"Of course.
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