dejected
rather than irate. "I suppose that's true. I _need_ discipline, and
she would naturally choose the worst of the three. No one wants to be
disciplined instead of having a good time, but it may be good for me in
the end. All the time you are at sea, happy and free, I shall be being
disciplined for my good... Wednesday may be my last, my very last, glad
day..."

"Bah! Rubbish!" snapped Dan, but he looked at the curly head, and felt
a pang of distaste. The idea of Darsie Garnett sobered and disciplined
out of recognition was distinctly unpleasant. He wriggled in his chair,
and said tentatively: "It will take more than one old lady to tame
_you_, young woman! You'll have lots of fun yet--perhaps more than if
you'd stayed at home."

Darsie smiled with angelic resignation.

"Perhaps so, but it won't be the same _kind_ of fun. New friends can
never be like old. If she chooses me, I must go, because of my duty to
father and the rest, but it's going to _hurt_! I feel,"--she waved her
arms dramatically in the air--"like a flower that is being torn out by
the roots! I shall not live long in a strange soil... Well, goodbye,
Dan; I won't bother you any more! Thank you very much for all you've
done for me in the past."

Done! Dan searched his memory, found therein inscribed a number of
snubs, rebuffs, and teasings, but nothing worthy of the thanks so
sweetly offered.

He felt a stirring of reproach. Darsie was a decent kid--an amusing
kid; if she went away she would leave behind her a decided blank.
Looking back over the years, Darsie seemed to have played the leading
part in the historic exploits of the family. She was growing into quite
a big kid now. He glanced at her again quickly, furtively, and drummed
with his fingers on the desk--hardly a kid at all, almost grown up!

"Oh, that's all right; don't worry about that," he mumbled vaguely.
"What a grandiloquent kid you are! I hope you'll have a better time
than you think, if you do go to visit your aunt."

"Thanks so much; I hope I may; and if at any time--_any_ time--I can do
anything to help you, or give you the least--the _very_ least--pleasure,
please let me know, Dan! I can understand now how one feels when one
leaves home and faces the world!" said Darsie poignantly. "G-goodbye!"

"Bye," said Dan coolly. He leaned back in his chair, still thudding
with his fingers on the desk. Darsie had reached the door and held it
open in her hands