"To try and make Ruth Kenway like me and let me tell her how very fond I am of her without a thought for the future, Sis."
"Oh, Luke! You are looking so very far ahead."
"I know it. And with the prospect I have without Neighbor's help, it would be looking very, very far indeed. I would be wrong to try to tie up any girl so long. I've fought that all out. I won't do it."
"But what will you do?" asked his sister, grieving for him in both voice and look.
"See Neighbor the moment we get home. I'll put it to him straight. I'll be no man's slave and for no amount of money. If he will see it in the right light I shall stop off here at Milton on my way to college, and just tell Ruth all about it."
"And if Neighbor will not listen to reason?"
"Then I must not speak to Ruth," the young man said bitterly, and turned abruptly away from her.
"Yes. But," murmured Cecile, "will that be kind to Ruth? I wonder!"