Gosh! I limbered up that store some in twelve months!" And the stout man smiled reminiscently.
Ross was still silent.
"And now you've got what you wanted--thanks to her, mind you, thanks to her!--and you ain't willing to let her have what she wants!" The young man moistened his lips to speak.
"You ain't dependent on her in any sense--I don't mean that.

You earned the place all right, and I don't doubt you'll make good, both in a business way and a scientific way, young man.

But why in Hades you can't let her be happy, too, is more'n I can figure! Guess you get your notions from two generations back--and some!" Ross began, stumblingly.

"I did not know I was indebted to you, Mr.
Thaddler." "You're not, young man, you're not! I ran that shop of yours a year--built up the business and sold it for more than I paid for this.
So you've no room for heroics--none at all.

What I want you to realize is that you're breaking the heart of the finest woman I ever saw.