"If I come to that," he added, "I've got, besides, a love of study and a talent for teaching, two things he never had." Fair asked a question and he laughed again. "O! no, it was only a passing thought. If anybody 'busts Rosemont wide open' it'll have to be Leggett. O! no, I----" He played with his spoon. Fair's response must have been complimentary. "Thank you," said March; "why, thank you!" Then the visitor spoke again and the convalescent replied: "Ah! a 'diligent and vigilant patience'--yes, I don't doubt it would serve me best--provided, my dear sir, it didn't turn out simply a virtue of impotency; or, worse yet, what I once heard called 'the thrifty discretion of a short-winded courage!'" When Fair responded this time March let him speak long. Johanna bent her ear anxiously. Her patient seemed to be neglecting his food; but as he began to reply she resumed her needle. "Fair," she heard him say, "--why--why, Fair, that's a mighty handsome offer to come from such a prudent business man as you. My George! sir, men don't often put such valuable freight into a boat that's aground. Why--why, you spoil my talk; I positively don't know what--what to say!" There was a choke in his voice. Fair made some answer which March gratefully cut short. "O! I wish I could! It hurts me all over and through to decline it. But I must; I've got to! 'Think it over'--O! I've thought it over probably before you ever thought of it at all! I know my capabilities. I'm not in such a fierce hurry for things as I used to be, but I've got what brains I ever had--and spine, too--and I know that even without your offer there's a better chance for me North than here. But--O! it's no use, Fair, I just can't go! I mustn't! Yes. Yes. O! yes, I know all that, but, my dear sir, I can't afford--You know, this Suez soil isn't something I can shake off my shoes as you might. George! I'm part of it! I'm not Quixotic--not a bit! I'm only choosing between two sorts of selfishness, one not quite so narrow as the other; but--I've got to stay here." Fair, after a short silence, asked if this was his only reason. "Only reason? Why--why, yes, that's my only reason! To be sure, there's a sense in which--why, conscience! isn't it enough? O! of course, I could _think up_ other considerations, but they're not reasons--I don't allow them to bias me at all! Fact is, I was never before quite so foot-free. Why did you ask? Did you fancy I might be contemplating marriage? O, go 'long! why, my good gracious, Fair, I--it's an honest fact--I haven't even _been to see_ one marriageable girl since I came back from Europe! No, the reason I give is _the_ reason. It covers everything else.