Don't you care for success? Or for money?"
John interrupted her. He leaned forward and spoke, deliberately but
firmly. And he looked her straight in the face.
"I do," he said. "I care for both--now--more than I ever thought I could
care."
And, all at once, the young lady seemed to remember that her cousin and
the captain were in the room. She colored, and when she spoke it was in
a different tone.
"Then," she said, "it seems to me, if I were you, I should accept the
opportunities that came in my way. Of course, it's not my affair. I
shouldn't have presumed to advise." She rose and moved toward the
door. "Good night, Mr. Kendrick," she said. "Good night, Captain Bangs.
Auntie, you will excuse me, won't you? I am rather tired tonight, and--"
But once more Kendrick interrupted.
"One moment, please, Miss Howes," he said, earnestly. "Do I
understand--do you mean that you wish me to accept Cousin Holliday's
retainer?"
Emily paused.
"Why," she answered, after an instant's hesitation, "I--I really don't
see why my wish one way or the other should be very strong. But--but as
a friend of yours--of course we are all your friends, Mr. Kendrick--as
one of your friends I--we, naturally, like to see you rise in your
profession."
"Then you advise me to accept?"
"If my advice is worth anything--yes. Good night."
Next day, when Captain Obed made his customary call at the
ex-barber-shop, he ventured to ask the question uppermost in his mind.
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