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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
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