“What do you mean by that?” indignantly. “Where do I come in on the deal? Do you suppose I _want_ to get rid of her? She’s mine now and I want her to stay mine. Don’t talk like a fool, woman.” Miss Clark was still smiling. “The surest way to get anything out of you, Foster,” she observed, “is to stir you up. I learned that long ago.” “Is that so? Well, what do you think you’ve got out of me now? I’ve told you the truth and nothing else.” “There, there! I don’t doubt a word you’ve told me. Of course you want Esther to be yours and stay yours. I don’t blame you for that. And the surest and quickest way to bring that around is to put her where there won’t be so many reminders of the times when she was somebody else’s. I should probably do the same thing, if I were you.” “Look here, Reliance!... Oh, well! what’s the use? I thought you had more sense. You’re jealous, that’s what ails you.” “Am I? Well, I guess I am, a little.” “I guess you are, too. If you feel that way why did you tell her to come with me in the first place?” “I told her to come because I knew she ought to, for her own sake.” “Yes, and I’m sending her to Boston to study music for the same reason. If you think I’m sending her off, making myself a darned sight lonesomer than I was before, because I want to get her out of _your_ way you’re flattering yourself.” “Then whose way _are_ you getting her out of?... Well, well, never mind! I think it’s a fine opportunity for Esther. She ought to go, and I shall tell her she must. That is what you came here to ask me to do, of course.” He was having his own way once more and his good humor returned. “That is settled then,” he said. “I’m much obliged to you, Reliance. You can generally be counted on to see a light--after you’ve had the fun of arguing that there isn’t any to see. You and I will have to keep each other company while the girl’s away. When I get too lonesome I shall be dropping in here to pick a fight with you. There will always be one waiting to be picked, I can see that. You and Millard better come up to dinner again next Sunday. Esther likes to have you.” That evening he told his niece of the great plan. He was prepared for objections but there were none worth mentioning. Esther was too dazzled by the brilliant picture and its possibilities to remember that it meant leaving her new home and Harniss and her Aunt Reliance. Her uncle dwelt upon the future and its marvelous promise of a career.