I
mean every word I am saying, Phil. It may go against the grain at first
to associate with such cads as Chad and his crowd; but perhaps that'll
wear away in time, and I may come to enjoy what I now abhor. As these
low pleasures have fascinated you, so they may fascinate me."
"If you _ever_ put your foot in Chad Whitcombe's house again, I'll make
him turn you out," cried Phil, in a rage, shaking his finger at Felix.
"Why, you donkey! less than three months of that sort of life'd use you
up completely. I'll fix you, if you ever undertake to try it; I'll go
straight to the _pater_,--I swear I will."
"No need to do that, old fellow," Fee said, in _such_ a loving voice!
"Just drop that set you've got into, and be your own upright, honourable
self again, and you shall never hear another word of such talk out of
me. But," he added earnestly, "I _cannot_, I will not stand seeing you,
my brother, my chum, our mother's son"--Fee's voice shook--"going all
wrong, without lifting a finger to save you. Why, Phil, I'd give my very
life, if need be, to keep you from becoming a drunkard and a gambler.
_Don't_ go back to those fellows to-night, dear old boy; for--for _her_
sake, _don't_ go!" Felix was pleading with his whole heart in his voice,
looking eagerly, entreatingly up at Phil, and holding out his hands
to him.
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