y be."

Again it was Emily who spoke.

"Perhaps you are--TOO particular," she said. "Can you afford to be so
particular?"

"Probably not. But, you see, there is another thing. There is a question
of professional ethics involved. If I take that retainer I am bound in
honor to undertake any case Cousin Holliday may give me. And--and, I'm
not sure I should care to do that. You know how I feel about a
lawyer's duty to his client and his duty to himself. There are certain
questions--"

She interrupted.

"I think there are, too many questions," she said. "I lose patience with
you sometimes. Often and often I have known of your refusing cases which
other lawyers have taken and won."

"Meaning Brother Daniels?" He asked it with a smile, but with some
sarcasm in his tone. Both he and Miss Rowes seemed to have forgotten
that the captain and Thankful were present.

"Why, yes. Mr. Daniels has accepted cases which you have refused. No one
thinks the less of him for it. He will accept your cousin's retainer if
you don't."

"I presume he will. That would be the practical thing to do, and he
prides himself on his practicality."

"Practicality is not altogether bad. It is often necessary in this
practical world. What case is Mr. Kendrick likely to put in your hands
which you would hesitate to undertake?"

"None that I know of. But if he did, I--"

"You could refuse to take it."

"Why, not easily. I should have accepted his retainer and that,
according to legal etiquette, would make me honor bound to--"

She interrupted again. Her patience was almost gone, that was plain. For
the matter of that, so was Captain Obed's.

"Don't you think that you are a trifle too sensitive concerning honor?"
she asked. "And too suspicious besides? I do. Oh, I am tired of your
scruples. I don't like to see you letting success and--and all the rest
of it pass you by, when other men, not so overscrupulous, do succeed.
Don't you care for success? Or for money?"

John interrupted her. He leaned forward and spoke, deliberately but
firmly. And he looked her straight in the face.

"I do," he said. "I care for both--now--more than I ever thought I could
care."

And, all at once, the young lady seemed to remember that her cousin and
the captain were in the room. She colored, and when she spoke it was in
a different tone.

"Then," she said, "it seems to me, if I were you, I should accept the
opportunities that came in my way. Of course, it's