"Oh, no—no one in particular," Burr replied, turning and facing me, his hands in his pockets. "It's only that I have been thrown with a lot of various people down there—older married men and women mostly. I've got a different point of view, broadened out, I suppose you'd call it. Elsie is so young, I don't think she'll ever grow up—so young and unsophisticated. Oh, I've thought it all out, Nan, hashed it over in my mind night after night, discussed it impersonally with people whose opinions I respect; weighed the consequences of both courses; tried honestly all along to consider Elsie's happiness first of all. I'm not forgetting Elsie. Believe me there, at least. I shall make it as easy as I know how for her. I shan't come around here any more than I can help. Be sure of that. I am going to clear out entirely, Nan."
"Clear out?" I questioned.
"Yes. Just that. I've never said so, but law is not to my taste. Never was. I've stuck to it only because of Elsie, and the necessity of making a living of some kind. I've always wanted to see a little of the world, you know that. I never cared about business and the everlasting grind for money. I can manage very well alone on what I've got, and satisfy my tastes too. I plan to
