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.

"Have you decided yet, John?" he asked.

His friend looked at him.

"Meaning--what?" he queried.

"Meanin'--you know what I mean well enough. Have you decided to take
your cousin's offer?"

"I've done more than that, Captain. I have accepted the offer and the
retaining fee, too."

Captain Obed sprang forward and held out his hand.

"Bully for you, John!" he shouted. "That's the best thing you ever done
in your life. NOW you've really started."

Kendrick smiled. "Yes," he admitted, "I have started. Where I may finish
is another matter."

"Oh, you'll finish all right. Don't be a Jeremiah, John. Well, well!
This is fine. Won't all hands be pleased!"

"Yes, won't they! Especially Brother Daniels. Daniels will be overcome
with joy. Captain, have a cigar. Have two cigars. I have begun to spend
my retainer already, you see."

CHAPTER IX

The August days were busy ones at the High Cliff House. Every room was
filled and the tables in the dining-room well crowded. Thankful told
Captain Bangs that she could not spare time even to look out of the
window. "And yet Emily and I are about the only ones who don't look
out," she added. "There's enough goin' on to look at, that's sartin."

There was indeed. Mr. E. Holliday Kendrick having taken possession of
his new estate, immediately set about the improving and enlarging which
Mr. Daniels had quoted him as contemplating. Carpenters, painters and
gardeners were at work daily. The Kendrick motor cars and the Kendrick
servants were much in