"You can’t laugh me out of it," he repeated, burying his face in his hands. "I’ll talk to you just as if you were my own—I’ve often wished I had a son. I could have done so much for him—I could have made something of a son of mine. You are a young fellow, with every advantage that money can give—handsome, and healthy, and clever. The world’s before you. Rise up and be a man! Crush this thing under your feet! Don’t consider your life is over before it’s begun—because you can’t have the first thing you happened to wish for. Love isn’t the only thing in life—especially for a man. Look at the sphere a man has for his activity! I sometimes feel like shaking some of you!" "You don’t understand—you don’t know—what a hold it has taken of me!" "Nonsense! Make an effort! It’s in you. You’re a soldier—there are other battles to be fought beside those on the battlefield." "I know. And I’ll fight—when I must. It hasn’t come to that yet. I haven’t given up hope. Don’t talk to me as if I were a coward. I went off to Manila, and I loved her then. I didn’t know when I wished her good-bye but that it might be the last time I should ever see her. But it wasn’t so bad as this man walking in here, a perfect stranger, and trying to steal her under my very eyes—when I’ve known her all my life. And what does it all mean? Fine talk—a little extra polish!" "Lord Canning’s a very interesting man—a man who holds a high position in England. Indiana also has her future to make. You mustn’t expect because you’ve played with her as a child—well, what is the use of talking sense to you!" "You mean well by me, Mrs. Bunker, and I thank you for it—you may be even right in what you say. You’ve travelled a great deal and met hosts of people, and you’re very experienced, but you don’t understand. This has been growing in me before I knew—growing with my growth—and growing after I knew—it’s tearing a flower from the roots!" He rose abruptly and leaned against the door. "Come out," called Stillwater. "What are you sitting over the fire for? The sun feels fine to-day! This is great weather! I’m half sorry that I didn’t join the rest and bring down a few birds. Here’s a boat coming in now. Lord Stafford’s man with Haller." "I don’t see anything of Indiana nowadays, since those Englishmen have been here." Mr. Stillwater looked at him significantly. "Well, they’ll be gone soon—then we’ll have her all to ourselves again, my boy!" "Mr. Stillwater, you—you don’t think Indiana cares for that man, do you?" "No!" replied Mr. Stillwater, scornfully. "He’s a man of position," said Glen, "and she’s flattered—that’s all." "That’s all," repeated Stillwater, putting his feet up on the rustic railing. "And another thing," Glen lowered his voice, "I suppose Mrs. Bunker’s been getting in some of her fine work."