did contemplate engaging a resident lawyer. There were
likely to be many of what he termed "minor details" connected with the
transfer of the Colfax estate to him and the purchases which he meant
to make later on, and an attorney at his beck and call would be a great
convenience. Not this only; he had actually offered his young cousin
the position, had offered to engage him and to pay him several hundred
dollars as a retaining fee.

He told his hearers so much, and then he stopped. Emily, who had seemed
much interested, waited a moment and then begged him to continue.

"Well?" she said. "Why don't you tell us the rest? We are all waiting to
congratulate you. You accepted, of course."

John shook his head. "Why, no," he replied, "I didn't accept, exactly.
I did say I would think it over; but I--well, I'm not sure that I shall
accept."

Here was the unexpected. His hearers looked at each other in amazement.

"You won't accept!" cried Thankful. "Why, Mr. Kendrick."

"Won't accept!" shouted Captain Obed. "What on earth! Why, John
Kendrick, what's the matter with you? Ain't you been settin' in that
office of yours waitin' and waitin' for somethin' worth while to come
along? And now a really big chance does come, and you say you don't know
as you'll take it! What kind of talk's that, I'd like to know!"

John smiled. Miss Howes, who seemed as much surprised as the others, did
not smile.

"Why won't you take it?" demanded the captain.

"Oh, I don't know. The proposition doesn't appeal to me as strongly as
it should, perhaps. Cousin Holliday and I ARE cousins, but we--well, we
differ in other ways besides the size of our incomes. When I was in New
York I went to him at one time. I was--I needed--well, I went to him. He
consented to see me and he listened to what I had to say, but he was
not too cordial. He didn't ask me to call again. Now he seems changed,
I admit. Remembers perfectly well that I am his father's brother's
only child and all that, and out of the kindness of his heart offers me
employment. But--but I don't know."

No one spoke for a moment. Then Emily broke the silence.

"You don't know?" she repeated, rather sharply. "Why not, may I ask?"

"Oh, I don't, that's all. For one thing, there is just a little too much
condescension in my dear cousin's manner. I may be a yellow dog, but
I don't like to sit up and beg when my master threatens to throw me a
bone. Perhaps I'm particular as to who that master ma