His hearers looked at each other in amazement.
"You won't accept!" cried Thankful.

"Why, Mr.Kendrick." "Won't accept!" shouted Captain Obed.

"What on earth! Why, John Kendrick, what's the matter with you?
Ain't you been settin' in that office of yours waitin' and waitin' for somethin' worth while to come along?
And now a really big chance does come, and you say you don't know as you'll take it! What kind of talk's that, I'd like to know!" John smiled.

Miss Howes, who seemed as much surprised as the others, did not smile.
"Why won't you take it ?" demanded the captain.
"Oh, I don't know.

The proposition doesn't appeal to me as strongly as it should, perhaps.