Deeply impressed upon his forehead
there was, as I now perceived, an ancient scar of a peculiar shape. At
last, a lovely bit of scenery broke the spell, and conversation began
to flow freely.
We had nearly got within sight of the encampment when he said,
'I am in some perplexity, sir, about the various branches of your
family. Aylwin, I need not tell you, was the name of the greatest man
of this age, and I am anxious to know what is exactly your connection
with him.'
'You surprise me,' I said. 'Out of our own family, in its various
branches, there is, I have been told, no very large number of
Aylwins, and I had no idea that one of them had become famous.'
'I did not say famous, sir, but great; two very different words. Yet,
in a certain deep sense, it may be said of Philip Aylwin's name that
since his lamented death it has even become famous. The Aylwinians
(of which body I am, as you are no doubt aware, founder and
president) are, I may say, becoming--'
'Philip Aylwin!' I said. 'Why, that was my father. He famous!'
The recollection of the essay upon 'Hamalet and Hamlet,' the thought
of the brass-rubbings, the kneecaps and mittens, came before me in an
irresistibly humorous light, and I could not repress a smile.
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