Emily declined the invitation.  “No, thank you, Mr. Daniels,” she said.  “I am rather tired and I think I won’t go out tonight.  By the way, Mr. Kendrick,” she added, “was the great man asking your advice also?  I happened to see him go into your office yesterday.”

Everyone was surprised—­everyone except the speaker and the person addressed, that is—­but Heman’s surprise was most manifest.  His hand was on the knob of the door, but now he turned.

“In his office?” he repeated.  “Kendrick, was he in to see you?”

John bowed assent.  “Yes,” he said.  “He seems to be contemplating retaining a sort of—­of resident attorney to look after his local affairs.  I mentioned your name, Daniels.”

Mr. Daniels went out.  The door banged behind him.

A half hour later, after Mr. Hammond also had gone to join the marshmallow toasters and Miss Timpson had retired to her room, John told the others the story.  Mr. E. Holliday Kendrick had called upon him at his office and he did contemplate engaging a resident lawyer.  There were likely to be many of what he termed “minor details” connected with the transfer of the Colfax estate to him and the purchases which he meant to make later on, and an attorney at his beck and call would be a great convenience.  Not this only; he had actually offered his young cousin the position, had offered to engage him and to pay him several hundred dollars as a retaining fee.

He told his hearers so much, and then he stopped.  Emily, who had seemed much interested, waited a moment and then begged him to continue.

“Well?” she said.  “Why don’t you tell us the rest?  We are all waiting to congratulate you.  You accepted, of course.”

John shook his head.  “Why, no,” he replied, “I didn’t accept, exactly.  I did say I would think it over; but I—­well, I’m not sure that I shall accept.”

Here was the unexpected.  His hearers looked at each other in amazement.

“You won’t accept!” cried Thankful.  “Why, Mr. Kendrick.”

“Won’t accept!” shouted Captain Obed.  “What on earth!  Why, John Kendrick, what’s the matter with you?  Ain’t you been settin’ in that office of yours waitin’ and waitin’ for somethin’ worth while to come along?  And now a really big chance does come, and you say you don’t know as you’ll take it!  What kind of talk’s that, I’d like to know!”

John smiled.  Miss Howes, who seemed as much surprised as the others, did not smile.

“Why won’t you take it?” demanded the captain.

“Oh, I don’t know.  The proposition doesn’t appeal to me as strongly as it should, perhaps.  Cousin Holliday and I are cousins, but we—­well, we differ in other ways besides the size of our incomes.  When I was in New York I went to him at one time.  I was—­I needed—­well, I went to him.  He consented to see me and he listened to what I had to say, but he was not too cordial.  He didn’t ask me to call again.  Now he seems changed, I admit.  Remembers perfectly well that I am his father’s brother’s only child and all that, and out of the kindness of his heart offers me employment.  But—­but I don’t know.”