He was very poor; but had never accepted the smallest favour
from the hands of his wealthy friend. Sir Oswald was devoutly attached
to him, and would have gladly opened his purse to him as to a brother;
but he dared not offend the stern old soldier's pride by even hinting
at such a desire.
Captain Copplestone came to Raynham prepared to remonstrate with his
friend on the folly of his marriage. He arrived when the reception-room
was crowded with other visitors, and be stood by, looking on in grim
disdain, while the newly arrived guests were pressing their
felicitations on Sir Oswald.
By and bye the guests departed to their rooms, and the friends were
left alone.
"Well, old friend," cried the baronet, stretching out both his hands to
grasp those of the captain in a warmer salutation than that of his
first welcome, "am I to have no word of congratulation from you?"
"What word do you want?" growled Copplestone. "If I tell you the truth,
you won't like it; and if I were to try to tell you a lie, egad! I
think the syllables would choke me. It has been hard enough for me to
keep patience while all those idiots have been babbling their unmeaning
compliments; and now that they've gone away to laugh at you behind your
back, you'd better let me follow their example, and not risk the chance
of a quarrel with an old friend by speaking my mind.
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