Why didn't you refuse at once ?" For the first time John hesitated.

"Well," he said, slowly, "for one reason I was taken completely by surprise." "So was Aunt Thankful, when he came to her.

But she refused." "And, for another, there were certain circumstances which made it hard to refuse point-blank.

In a way, I suppose Mr.Kendrick was justified in assuming that I would work for his interests.

I accepted his retaining fee.