The old man got up hurriedly. "Yes, Lute. Come into the dining-room. You will excuse me, sir?" he said to Mr. Carter. He put his hand on Lute's arm, in a friendly grip, for there was a break in the boy's voice. "I know about it," Lute said. They sat down at the dining-room table; Lute swallowed hard, and pulled with trembling fingers at his hatband; he did not lift his eyes. "And--and I want you to tell her not to take it." "How is she, Lute?" "I haven't seen her. She wouldn't come down-stairs. She sent me a little note," Luther said, taking it out of his breast-pocket, and then putting it back again tenderly. "'Course I won't pay any attention to it." "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. "Bring ease to--to the family," Dr. Lavendar ended lamely. "You know Mr. Gray won't touch it," Lute burst out; "and I can't let Alice, either. Dr. Lavendar, I thought maybe you'd let me hitch Goliath up and drive you out to the house?" "Not to-night, Lute. Alice has got to be alone. Poor child, poor child! Yes; we've all of us got to meet the devil alone. Temptation is a lonely business, Lute. To-morrow I'll go, of course. Did you answer her note?" "Oh yes; right off. I just said, 'Don't be foolish,' and--and some other things. I didn't tell her we mustn't take the money, because I hadn't thought of it then. Mrs. Gray said she wouldn't come out of her room. Oh, just think of her, all by herself!" Luther bent over and fumbled with his shoelace; when he looked up, Dr. Lavendar pretended not to see his eyes.