When she asked him how long he could remain, he said as long as
she did. When she explained that she was enjoying herself
thoroughly and had no idea how long she would want to stay, he
said that was all right; he had only had one vacation in his life;
it was time he was having another. When she marvelled at this he
said: "Now, look here, Mother, let's get this business straight,
right at the start. I told you when I came I'd seen the woman I
wanted. If you want me to go back to business, the way to do it
is to help me win her."
"But I don't want you 'to go back to business'; I want you to have
a long vacation, and learn all you can from the educational
advantages here."
"It's too late for me to learn more than I get every day by
knocking around and meeting people. I've tried books two or three
times, and I've given them up; I can't do it. I've waited too
long, I've no way to get down to it, I can't remember to save my
soul."
"But you can remember anything on earth about a business deal,"
she urged.
"Of course I can. I was born with a business head. It was
remember, or starve, and see you starve. If I'd had the books at
the time they would have helped; now it's too late, and I'll never
try it again, that's settled. Much as I want to marry Miss Bates,
she'll have to take me or leave me as I am. I can't make myself
over for her or for you. I would if I could, but that's one of
the things I can't do, and I admit it. If I'm not good enough for
her as I am, she'll have the chance to tell me so the very first
minute I think it's proper to ask her."
"John, you are good enough for the best woman on earth. There
never was a better lad, it isn't that, and you know it. I am so
anxious that I can scarcely wait; but you must wait. You must
give her time and go slowly, and you must be careful, oh, so very
careful! She's a teacher and a student; she came here to study."
"I'll fix that. I can rush things so that there'll be no time to
study."
"You'll make a mistake if you try it. You'd far better let her go
her own way and only appear when she has time for you," she
advised.
"That's a fine idea!" he cried. "A lot of ice I'd cut, sitting
back waiting for a signal to run after a girl, like a poodle. The
way to do is the same as with any business deal. See what you
want, overcome anything in your way, and get it. I'd go crazy
hanging around like that. You've always told me I couldn't do the
things in business I said I would; and I've always proved to you
that I could, by doing them. Now watch me do this."