“First thing that’s struck me right since I came,” grunted Caleb, eagerly beginning to shed the tabooed garments. “I’ll get into something comf’table in half a minute if you’ll wait for me that long.”
“The Granite papers keep us posted on your doings,” said Jack, seating himself on the bed. “You’ve made the old State sit up this summer.”
“I’ll have it standin’ on its hind legs an’ beggin’, before I’m done,” chuckled Conover. “I’m only just beginnin’. How you gettin’ on with Dey?”
“How do you mean?” asked Jack, uneasily.
“Got her to take your view of the marryin’ problem?”
“No,” said the boy. “I haven’t.”
“Too bad! Been here all summer with her, an’ had moonlight an’ all that sort of thing to your favor. I sh’d think if you was ever goin’ to make her fall in love with you—”
“I know,” interrupted Jack soberly. “I counted on all that, but—”
“Can’t get her to see it your way?”
“Not yet. Sometimes I’m afraid I never shall. But I shan’t give up. All my life I shall care for her and try to make myself worthy of her, whether she ever gets to caring or not.”