“A man cannot drop a business just because he desires to. My going would disorganize everything and distress a great many people. I’m the binder that holds this organization together.”
“Don’t take yourself too seriously, Dan. You weren’t born to daddy the world, you know. You worry too much about other people and what will happen to them when they can no longer lean against you for support. Why not give them an opportunity to care for themselves for a change?”
From the tip of her small feet to the cockade on her dainty little hat, his calm, serious glance roved over her. “Well,” he replied soberly, “how would you relish the prospect of caring for yourself—for a change?”
“I’m sure I do not know. I fear I’d be rather helpless—for a while.”
“Do you think I ought to accord your uncle and aunt an opportunity to care for themselves—for a change?”
“Good gracious, no! Is there a possibility of that situation presenting itself?”
“An excellent possibility—if I elect to forget that I am a square peg in a round hole and doomed to remain such.”
“Oh, Dan, I’m so sorry!”
“Sorry for whom?”
“For—everybody.”