Captain Elisha seemed pleased, but he shook his head.
“How do you know you’d like it?” he asked. “You’ve never tried.”
“No, I never have; but I’ll like it all right. I know I shall. It’s what I’ve wanted to do ever since I was old enough to think of such things. Just let me start in now, right away, and I’ll show you. I’ll make good; you see if I don’t.”
He was very earnest. The captain deliberated before answering.
“Stevie,” he said, doubtfully, “I rather like to hear you talk that way; I own up it pleases me. But, as to your givin’ up college—that’s different. Let me think it over for a day or two; that is, if you can put off the Maine trip so long as that.”
“Hang the Maine trip! You let me get into business, the business I want to get into, and I won’t ask for a vacation; you can bet on that!”
“All right then. I’ll think, and do some questionin’ around, and report soon’s I’ve decided what’s best.”
He laid the stump of his cigar in the ash receiver and rose from his chair. But his nephew had not finished.
“There was something else I intended to say,” he announced, but with less eagerness.
“That so? What?”