"If you know what's good for you,
you'll stay where you are. You're not the only man that ought to be
married. Tarboe's a strong man, and he'll be father's partner. He's
handsome in his rough way too, is Tarboe. He knows what he wants, and
means to have it, and this is a free country. Our girls, they have their
own way. Why don't you settle it now? Why don't you marry Junia, and take
her away with you--if she'll have you?"
"I can't--even if she'll have me."
"Why can't you?"
"I'm afraid of the law."
An uneasy smile hung at Carnac's lips. He suddenly caught Fabian's
shoulder in a strong grip. "We've never been close friends, Fabian. We've
always been at sixes and sevens, and yet I feel you'd rather do me a good
turn than a bad one. Let me ask you this--that you'll not believe
anything bad of me till you've heard what I've got to say. Will you do
that?"
Fabian nodded. "Of course. But if I were you, I wouldn't bet on myself,
Carnac. Junia's worth running risks for. She's got more brains than my
wife and me together, and she bosses us; but with you, it's different. I
think you'd boss her. You're unexpected; you're daring; and you're
reckless."
"Yes, I certainly am reckless."
"Then why aren't you reckless now? You're going away.
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