Tra, la, la, tra, la,
la. Oh, Norman, if you could have heard that waltz," and Eric seized his
companion in his big arms and started about the room in a mad dance. "You
are Miss Hopkins, Norman, you are. Here goes--" but Norman struck out
a bold stroke that nearly staggered Eric and broke loose. "For Heaven's
sake, Eric, stop this fooling; I want to speak to you earnestly."
"Evidently," replied Eric, with excited face, "forcibly also. Blows
belong after words, not before," and the big boy tramped indignantly off
to bed.
Norman Mann was in earnest truly, forcible also, for he opened his mouth
to let out a very expressive word as Eric left the room. It did him good
seemingly, for he strode up and down more quietly. At last he sat down
and began to talk with himself. "Norman Mann, you've got to do it all
alone," he said. "Albert and Edith and Aunt Martha are too vexed and
shocked to do the little rebel any good. Ric, oh, dear, Ric is a silly
boy, God bless him, and here I am doomed to make that child hate me, and
with no possible authority over her, or power, for that matter, trying
to keep her from something terribly wild.
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