Abel lighted another cigar.  Mr. Dinks was a little confounded by the sudden lurch of the conversation.

“Very, very,” he replied, as if he were entirely loth to linger upon the subject.

“The father of the lady in these cases is very apt to be obdurate,” said Abel.

“I think very likely,” replied Mr. Dinks, with the polite air of a man assenting to an axiom in a science of which, unfortunately, he has not the slightest knowledge.

“Now, Sir,” persisted Abel, “I will not conceal from you—­for I know a father’s heart will wish to know to what his son is exposed—­that my father is in quite a frenzy about this affair.”

“Oh! he’ll get over it,” interrupted Mr. Dinks, complacently.  “They always do; and now, don’t you think that we had better—­”

“Exactly,” struck in the other.  “But I, who know my father well, know that he will not relent.  Oh, Sir, it is dreadful to think of a family divided!” Abel puffed for a moment in silence.  “But I think my dearest father loves me enough to allow me to mould him a little.  If, for instance, I could say to him that Mr. Dinks would contribute say fifteen hundred dollars a year, until Mr. Alfred comes into his fortune, I think in that case I might persuade him to advance as much; and so, Sir, your son and my dear sister might live somewhat as they have been accustomed, and their mutual affection would sustain them, I doubt not, until the grandfather died.  Then all would be right.”

Abel blew his nose as if to command his emotion, and looked at Mr. Dinks.

“Mr. Newt, I should prefer to drop the subject.  I can not afford to give my son a larger allowance.  I doubt if he ever gets a cent from Mr. Burt, who is not his grandfather, but only the uncle of my wife.  Possibly Mrs. Dinks may receive something.  I repeat that I presume my son understands what he is about.  If he has done a foolish thing, I am sorry.  I hope he has not.  Let us drink to the prosperity of the romantic young pair, Sir.”

“With all my heart,” said Abel.

He was satisfied.  He had come to the dinner that he might discover, in the freedom of soul which follows a feast, what Alfred Dinks’s prospects really were, and what his father would do for him.  Boniface Newt, upon coming to the store after the tete-a-tete with his wife, had told Abel of his sister’s marriage.  Abel had comforted his parent by the representation of the probable Burt inheritance.  But the father was skeptical.  Therefore, when General Arcularius Belch requested the pleasure of Mr. Abel Newt’s company at dinner, to meet the Honorable B. Jawley Ele—­an invitation which was dictated by General Belch’s desire to stand well with Boniface Newt, who contributed generously to the expenses of the party—­the father and son both perceived the opportunity of discovering what they wished.

“Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Dinks will have six hundred a year, as long as papa Dinks chooses to pay it,” said Abel to his father the day after the dinner.