“Personally, perhaps I shouldn’t mind much if you did. But there are others to look after, and so, before you do, it might be worth while to learn what the fine alternative was to have been. It would be a great pity to not even to hear these noble plans with which you were primed, you say, when you came out.” “But you must admit, John, that you and Seth tonight have been enough to try the patience of a saint.” “Oh, yes, we admit that. Go on!” “Well, you’ve made it a little difficult for me to develop my plans--they were scarcely formed in my mind. In a general way, I wanted to consult you about freeing the farm, perhaps buying back some of the original land that has gone, putting the house in shape again, improving the stock, placing Father and Sabrina beyond the chance of ever being embarrassed again--and--and--doing something for Seth.” “Nobody wants you--” began the impatient Seth. “Youngster, _you_ shut up!” said John, again using the quieting hand. “Do you really mean all this, Albert?” “I should scarcely have spoken in detail as I have, otherwise,” answered the lawyer loftily. “Well, this--” said John, “this takes a fellow’s breath away.” “If you hadn’t been in such haste to impute bad motives and convict me without judge or jury, perhaps the effect of my plans might not have been so overpowering.” “Yes, we did you an injustice, Albert, clearly we did. We were full of the idea that all these troubles rolled off you like water off a duck’s back. It seems that was our mistake. But--what’s your scheme?” “Definitely, I have none, except to do all I can, in the way we may decide will be best all around. I have been thinking some of coming to live here myself, say from May to November of each year, and taking the farm into my own hands.” “H’m--m! That might have its advantages, perhaps--_but_----” “Oh, I know what you mean. If I do, everybody’s rights shall be respected. We’ll fix that beyond question, to your satisfaction, before a thing is done.” “I don’t care about myself, particularly; you know that: but then there’s Seth, you know--we’ve always figured on the farm as his. It’s true he don’t want to be a farmer, that he hates the whole thing, but still that represents all his capital, so to speak, and--” “My dear John, that shall all be arranged. I am a childless man--probably always shall be. As long as Father lives the farm shall remain in his name. Either his will can be in my favor, or I can manage the farm as a trustee for all three of us, after he’s gone. In either case, you shall both be protected in turn by my will--absolutely protected. Meantime, what do you want me to do for Seth? What does he want to do?” “Nothing needs to be done for me,” began Seth, “I can--”