Stephen read this screed to the end, then crumpled it in his fist and threw it angrily on the floor.
“The nerve!” he exclaimed. “He seems to think I’m a sailor on one of his ships, to be ordered around as he sees fit. I’ll go back to college when I’m good and ready—not before.”
Caroline shook her head. “Oh, no!” she said. “You must go to-day. He’s right, Steve; it’s the thing for you to do. He and I were agreed as to that. And you wouldn’t stay and make it harder for me, would you, dear?”
He growled a reluctant assent. “I suppose I shall have to go,” he said, sullenly. “My allowance is too beastly small to have him cutting it; and the old shark would do that very thing; he’d take delight in doing it, confound him! Well, he knows what we think of him, that’s some comfort.”
She did not answer. He looked at her curiously.
“Why, hang it all, Caro!” he exclaimed in disgust; “what ails you? Blessed if I sha’n’t begin to believe you’re sorry he’s gone. You act as if you were.”
“No, I’m not. Of course I’m not. I’m—I’m glad. He couldn’t stay, of course. But I’m afraid—I can’t help feeling that you and I were too harsh last night. We said things—dreadful things—”
“Be hanged! We didn’t say half enough. Oh, don’t be a fool, Caro! I was just beginning to be proud of your grit. And now you want to take it all back. Honestly, girls are the limit! You don’t know your own minds for twelve consecutive hours. Answer me now! Are you sorry he’s gone?”
“No. No, I’m not, really. But I—I feel somehow as if—as if everything was on my shoulders. You’re going away, and he’s gone, and—What is it, Edwards?”
The butler entered, with a small parcel in his hand.