f my own and take care
of Kippy, too. I don't know as I ever was so happy in all my life put
together before." He laughed nervously, but his eyes anxiously studied
her averted face.

"Then there's more news," he plunged on, when she did not speak--"a
letter from Mr. Hinton. I thought maybe you'd like to hear what he had
to say."

Guinevere's scissors dropped with a sharp ring on the stepping-stone
below, and as they both stooped to get them, their fingers touched. Mr.
Opp ardently seized her hand in both of his, but unfortunately he
seized her needle as well.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" she said. "Wait, let me do it," and with a
compassion which he considered nothing short of divine she extricated
the needle, and comforted the wounded member. Mr. Opp would have gladly
suffered the fate of a St. Sebastian to have elicited such sympathy.

"Is--is Mr. Hinton better?" she asked, still bending over his hand.

"Hinton?" asked Mr. Opp. "Oh, I forgot; yes. I'll read you what he says.
He got his nurse to write this for him.

Dear Opp: The die is cast; I am a has-been. I did not expect
anything, so I am not disappointed. The operation was what they
called successful. The surgeon, I am told, did a very brilliant
stunt; something like taking my eyes out, playing marbles with them,
and getting them sewed back again all in three minutes and a half.
The result to the patient is of course purely a minor consideration,
but it may interest you to know that I can tell a biped from a
quadruped, and may in time, by the aid of powerful glasses, be able
to distinguish faces.

With these useful and varied accomplishments I have decided to
return to the Cove. My modest ambition now is to get out of the way,
and the safest plan is to keep out of the current.

You will probably be a Benedick by the time I return. My heartiest
congratulations to you and Miss Guinevere. Words cannot thank either
of you for what you have done for me. All I can say is that I have
tried to be worthy of your friendship.

What's left of me is

Yours,

Willard Hinton."

Mr. Opp avoided looking at her as he folded the sheets and put them back
in the envelop. The goal was bright before his eyes, but quicksands
dragged at his feet.

"And he _will_ find us married, won't he, Miss Guin-never? You'll be
ready just as soon as I and your mother come to a understanding, won't
you?