"Yes,"
"To go out into the wide world?"
"Yes."
"I knew it would be thus, for I knew your spirit, Quentin, and so have been keeping guard here at the gate."
"Guard—for what purpose? To stop me?"
"No."
"What then?"
"To aid and help ye, Quentin, laddie," said Girvan, placing a heavy purse in his hand. "I have saved something here, forty guineas or so, off my half-pay, take them and use them cautiously, wi' an auld man's blessing—an auld soldier's, if you like it better."
"Girvan—John Girvan," said Quentin, with a very troubled voice; "I cannot—I cannot——"
"What?"