[remorsefully]
and it did LOOK like it—never comin' to see you; but I couldn't hardly manage the time to get away. You see, bein' trustee of your share of the estate, I don't hardly have a fair show at my law practice. But [pg 063] when I got your letter, eleven days ago, I says to myself: "Here, Daniel Voorhees Pike, you old shellback, you've just got to take time. John Simpson trusted you with his property, and he's done more
[his voice rises, but his tone is affectionate and shows deep feeling]
—he's trusted you to look out for her, and now she's come to a kind of jumpin'-off place in her life—she's thinking of gettin' married; and you just pack your grip-sack and hike out over there and stand by her!"
ETHEL
[frigidly]
I quite fail to understand your point of view. Perhaps I had best make it at once clear to you that I am no longer thinking of marrying.
PIKE
[leaning back in his chair and smiling on her]
Well, Lord-a-Mercy!