“I’lltestifythatyoutriedtodoit，“saidLauriewithagratefullook。
“AndI’vesucceededbeyondmyhopes，forhereyouare，asteady，sensiblebusinessman，doingheapsofgoodwithyourmoney，andlayinguptheblessingsofthepoor，insteadofdollars。
Butyouarenotmerelyabusinessman，youlovegoodandbeautifulthings，enjoythemyourself，andletothersgohalves，asyoualwaysdidintheoldtimes。Iamproudofyou，Teddy，foryougetbettereveryyear，andeveryonefeelsit，thoughyouwon’tletthemsayso。Yes，andwhenIhavemyflock，I’lljustpointtoyou，andsay`There’syourmodel，mylads’。“
PoorLauriedidn’tknowwheretolook，for，manthoughhewas，somethingoftheoldbashfulnesscameoverhimasthisburstofpraisemadeallfacesturnapprovinglyuponhim。
“Isay，Jo，that’srathertoomuch，“hebegan，justinhisoldboyishway。“YouhavealldonemoreformethanIcaneverthankyoufor，exceptbydoingmybestnottodisapointyou。Youhaverathercastmeofflately，Jo，butI’vehadthebestofhelp，nevertheless。So，ifI’vegotonatall，youmaythankthesetwoforit。“Andhelaidonehandgentlyonhisgrandfather’shead，andtheotheronAmy’sgoldenone，forthethreewereneverfarapart。