"But, Neighbor," said the young man desperately, "I couldn't help it. I tell you I admire Ruth Kenway immensely--immensely! I want to make her care for me, too. I want-- I want--" "The moon!" roared Mr. Northrup. "That's what you are crying for--like any baby. And you'll not get it--neither the moon nor the girl. What have I always told you? If you are fool enough to get mixed up with any girl, I wash my hands of you. Understand?" "Yes," said Luke, flushing deeply during this tirade but holding his own temper admirably in check. "Yes, I understand. But I'd like to talk with you about it--" "You can't talk to me about any girl!" "But I must," insisted Luke. "You see, I--I love her. And if I can possibly do it, I am going to win her for a wife--some day." The old gentleman arose in anger. "Do you mean to stand there and deliberately defy me?" "I am not defying you, Neighbor; I'm only telling you," Luke said, rather doggedly, it must be confessed. But his own eyes were glowing. "After my declaration to you that I will have nothing more to do with you if you fool with any girls--" "I'm not!" snapped Luke. "It is only one girl. The best girl in the world. I wish you'd go to Milton to see her." "Go to Milton? Indeed! I wouldn't go there--" He stopped and glowered at Luke for a moment without speaking. Then he asked harshly: "So this girl lives in Milton?" "Yes, sir. At the old Corner House. And she is lovely--" "Be still!" commanded the old man. "Young calf! Do you suppose _I_ am interested in your protestations of silliness about a girl! I want to hear nothing more about it. You understand my wishes well enough. I will never do a thing for you after you graduate-- I will strike you out of my will-- I'll close my door against you, if you entangle yourself in any way with this girl." "Oh, Neighbor!" murmured Luke sadly, stepping back from the old man's wildly gesturing arm. "I mean it. I always mean what I say," declared Mr. Northrup. "You should know me well enough by this time. A girl--faugh! You trouble me any more about this girl--or any other--and I'll have nothing more to do with you." "Very well, Mr. Northrup. Good-bye," said Luke, and turned toward the door. "Where are you going, you young whippersnapper!" roared the old man. "I have made up my mind. I will win Ruth if I can--though with my poor prospects I have no right to speak to her now. But it would not be right, when you feel as you do, for me to accept any further favors from you when I am determined in my heart to get Ruth in spite of you." The door closed quietly behind him before the old man could utter another word. He stared at the door, then sat down slowly and his face lost its angry color. Mr. Henry Northrup was apparently both pained and amazed. Perhaps he was mostly confused because Luke Shepard had taken him quite at his word. CHAPTER XXI ADVENTURES WITH SCALAWAG