ll. "I realize you've got a
job ahead of you, Son," wrote the captain, "but you can do it, if you
will. Fact is, I guess you've got to. So sail in and show us what you're
made of."

Stephen's answer was a five page declaration of independence. He refused
to be bullied by any living man. He had made arrangements to come to New
York on the following Monday, and he was coming. As to being sent back,
he wished his uncle to understand that it was one thing to order and
another to enforce obedience. To which he received the following note:

"I can't stop you from coming, Steve, except by going to New
Haven and holding you by main strength. That I don't propose
to do, for two reasons: first, that it is too much trouble,
and second that it ain't necessary. You can come home once in
a while to see your sister, but you mustn't do it till I say
the word. If you do, I shall take the carfare out of your
allowance, likewise board while you are here, and stop that
allowance for a month as a sort of fine for mutiny. So you
better think it over a spell. And, if I was you, I wouldn't
write Caroline that I was coming, or thinking of coming, till
I had my mind made up. She believes you are working hard at
your lessons. I shouldn't disappoint her, especially as it
wouldn't be any use.

"Your affectionate uncle,
"ELISHA WARREN."

The result of all this was that Stephen, whose finances were already in
a precarious condition, did think it over and decided not to take the
risk. Also, conscious that his sister sided with their guardian to the
extent of believing the university the best place for him at present, he
tore up the long letter of grievance which he had written her, and, in
that which took its place, mentioned merely that he was "grinding like
blazes," and the only satisfaction he got from it was his removal from
the society of the "old tyrant from Cape Cod."

He accepted the tyrant's invitation to return for the week-end and
his sister's birthday with no hesitation whatever; and his letter of
acceptance was so politic as to be almost humble.

He arrived on an early train Saturday morning. Caroline met him at the
station, and the Dunns' car conveyed them to the latter's residence,
where they were to spend the day. The Dunns and Caroline had been
together almost constantly since the evening when Malcolm and his mother
interrupted the reading o