George Wentworth read over the latter part of this letter two or three times. Then he rose, paced the floor, and pondered.
'It isn't a thing upon which I can ask anyone's advice,' he muttered to himself. 'The trouble with Kenyon is, he is entirely too modest; a little useful self-esteem would be just the thing for him.' At last he stopped suddenly in his walk. 'By Jove!' he said to himself, slapping his thigh, 'I shall do it, let the consequences be what they may.'
Then he sat down at his desk and wrote a letter.
'DEAR Miss LONGWORTH' (it began),
'You told me when you were here last that you wanted all the documents pertaining to the mine, in every instance. A document has come this morning that is rather important. John Kenyon, as you will learn by reading the letter, desires the managership of the mine. I need not say that I think he is the best man in the world for the position, and that everything will be safe in his hands. I therefore enclose you his letter. I had some thought of cutting out a part of it, but knowing your desire to have all the documents in the case, I take the liberty of sending this one exactly as it reached me, and if anyone is to blame, I am the person.
'I remain, your agent,
'GEORGE WENTWORTH.'
He sent this letter out at once, so that he would not have a chance to change his mind.
'It will reach her this afternoon, and doubtless she will call and see me.'
It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to say she did not call, and she did not see him for many days afterwards; but next morning, when he came to his office, he found a letter from her. It ran:
'DEAR MR. WENTWORTH,