Elizabeth also told David that his father had promised to travel down with them; that he intended to find a locum tenens for Stokeley, and that he would probably remain with them for a month or six weeks; and this last item of information seemed to afford David much satisfaction.

But the next moment he observed, in rather a worried tone, that it would be a great expense, and that he was afraid Theo would object.
"Theo will have to mind her own business," returned Elizabeth severely.
"Your father means to tell her that you are his first duty, and of course he is right." But Elizabeth carefully forbore to tell David that she had already undertaken to pay the expenses of the locum tenens for three months, and by dint of sheer obstinacy and feminine persuasions she had at last induced Mr.Carlyon to accept her bounty.
"My poverty and not my will consents," he observed sadly.

But Elizabeth would not listen to this.
"Dear Mr.Carlyon," she had said earnestly, "if you only knew the pleasure this will give me.

Can you not understand that I only cared for my money because it would be his, and now what good will it be to me?
Let me use it for him as long as I can.

Let me do all in my power for him and you too--as though--as though I were already your daughter." And then, as she wiped away a few quiet tears, Mr.Carlyon had yielded.
David strove with his wonted unselfishness to interest himself in Elizabeth's plans for his comfort.