you this evening, when you have met my wishes so freely; but I must say, Jasper, that your devotion to your nephew has made you exaggerative here.”
“You are my witness,” said Jasper, shrugging his shoulders, “what my state of mind honestly was, that night, before I sat down to write, and in what words I expressed it. You remember objecting to a word I used, as being too strong? It was a stronger word than any in my Diary.”
“Well, well. Try the antidote,” rejoined Mr. Crisparkle; “and may it give you a brighter and better view of the case! We will discuss it no more now. I have to thank you for myself, thank you sincerely.”
“You shall find,” said Jasper, as they shook hands, “that I will not do the thing you wish me to do, by halves. I will take care that Ned, giving way at all, shall give way thoroughly.”
On the third day after this conversation, he called on Mr. Crisparkle with the following letter: