"One thing I want to be sure of.

Are you doing this with any quixotic notion of helping me--in _my_ business?
Helping me to take care of my family?
Helping me to--" he stood up now, looking very tall and rather forbidding, "No, I won't say that to you." "Would there be anything wrong in my meaning exactly that ?" she asked, holding her own head a little higher; "both what you said and what you didn't ?" "It would be absolutely wrong, all of it," he answered.

"I cannot believe that the woman I love would--could take such a position." "Look here, Ross!" said the girl earnestly.

"Suppose you knew where there was a gold mine--_knew it_--and by going away for a few years you could get a real fortune--wouldn't you do it ?" "Naturally I should," he agreed.
"Well, suppose it wasn't a gold mine, but a business, a new system like those cigar stores--or--some patent amusement specialty--or _anything_--that you knew was better than what you're doing--wouldn't you have a right to try it ?" "Of course I should--but what has that to do with this case ?" "Why it's the same thing! Don't you see?
I have plans that will be of real benefit to all of us, something worth while to _do_--and not only for us but for _everybody_--a real piece of progress--and I'm going to leave my people--and even you!--for a little while--to make us all happier later on." He smiled lovingly at her but shook his head slowly.

"You dear, brave, foolish child!" he said.