"Saying she'd release you, I suppose?"
"Yes; but that's nothing. I'll make her understand the minute I see her. But, Dr. Lavendar, I don't want that—that money!" the boy ended, almost with a sob. "I want you to tell her not to take it."
Dr. Lavendar was silent.
"At first I thought—I couldn't help thinking—we could get married right off. We could get married and have a home of our own; you know, we'd be rich people with all that money. And I suppose, honestly, that as things are now, there's no chance of our getting married for a good while. But I—I tell you what, sir. I'd rather never get married than—than touch that money!"
Dr. Lavendar nodded.
"You won't let her, sir? You'll make her give it back?"
"My dear boy, I can't 'make' Alice do anything. The money is hers."
"Oh, but Dr. Lavendar, won't you go and talk to her? It may be a temptation to her, just as it was to me, for a minute. We could just make the office hum, sir. We could put it right on its feet; we could have a real Daily. I know she'll think of that. I just thought we could get married. But Alice will think about helping the office, and me."
"Of course the money would bring ease to her father—" Dr. Lavendar stopped abruptly.
"Oh, my God!" Lute said, and dropped his head on his arms.