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the latter broadened in scope and became more complex； she perceived
that their explanation wearied him。 She grew out of the habit of
asking him about them。 Soon their rapid advance had carried them
quite beyond her horizon。 To her； also； as to most women； the word
〃business〃 connoted nothing but a turmoil and a mystery。
In all other things they were to each other what they had been from
the first。 No more children had come to them。 Bobby； however； had
turned out a sturdy； honest little fellow； with more than a streak
of his mother's charm and intuition。 His future was the subject of
all Orde's plans。
〃I want to give him all the chance there is；〃 he explained to
Carroll。 〃A boy ought to start where his father left off； and not
have to do the same thing all over again。 But being a rich man's
son isn't much of a job。〃
〃Why don't you let him continue your business？〃 smiled Carroll；
secretly amused at the idea of the small person before them ever
doing anything。
〃By the time Bobby's grown up this business will all be closed out；〃
replied Orde seriously。
He continued to look at his minute son with puckered brow； until
Carroll smoothed out the wrinkles with the tips of her fingers。
〃Of course； having only a few minutes to decide；〃 she mocked；
〃perhaps we'd better make up our minds right now to have him a
street…car driver。〃
〃Yes！〃 agreed Bobby unexpectedly； and with emphasis。
Three years after this conversation； which would have made Bobby
just eight； Orde came back before six of a summer evening； his face
alight with satisfaction。
〃Hullo； bub！〃 he cried to Bobby； tossing him to his shoulder。
〃How's the kid？〃
They went out together； while awaiting dinner； to see the new setter
puppy in the woodshed。
〃Named him yet？〃 asked Orde。
〃Duke；〃 said Bobby。
Orde surveyed the animal gravely。
〃Seems like a good name；〃 said he。
After dinner the two adjourned to the library； where they sat
together in the 〃big chair；〃 and Bobby； squirmed a little sidewise
in order the better to see； watched the smoke from his father's
cigar as it eddied and curled in the air。
〃Tell a story；〃 he commanded finally。
〃Well；〃 acquiesced Orde； 〃there was once a man who had a cow〃
〃Once upon a time；〃 corrected Bobby。
He listened for a moment or so。
〃I don't like that story；〃 he then announced。 〃Tell the story about
the bears。〃
〃But this is a new story；〃 protested Orde； 〃and you've heard about
the bears so many times。〃
〃Bears；〃 insisted Bobby。
〃Well； once upon a time there were three bearsa big bear and a
middle…sized bear and a little bear〃 began Orde obediently。
Bobby； with a sigh of rapture and content； curled up in a snug； warm
little ball。 The twilight darkened。
〃Blind…man's holiday！〃 warned Carroll behind them so suddenly that
they both jumped。 〃And the sand man's been at somebody； I know！〃
She bore him away to bed。 Orde sat smoking in the darkness； staring
straight ahead of him into the future。 He believed he had found the
opportunitytwenty years distantfor which he had been looking so
long。
XXX
After a time Carroll descended the stairs； chuckling。 〃Jack；〃 she
called into the sitting…room； 〃come out on the porch。 What do you
suppose the young man did to…night？〃
〃Give it up；〃 replied Orde promptly。 〃No good guessing when it's a
question of that youngster's performances。 What was it？〃
〃He said his 'Now I lay me；' and asked blessings on you and me； and
the grandpas and grandmas； and Auntie Kate； as usual。 Then he
stopped。 'What else？' I reminded him。 'And；' he finished with a
rush； 'make…Bobby…a…good…boy…and…give…him…plenty…of…bread…'n…butter…
'n…apple…sauce！'〃
They laughed delightedly over this； clinging together like two
children。 Then they stepped out on the little porch and looked into
the fathomless night。 The sky was full of stars； aloof and calm；
but waiting breathless on the edge of action； attending the word of
command or the celestial vision； or whatever it is for which stars
seem to wait。 Along the street the dense velvet shade of the maples
threw the sidewalks into impenetrable blackness。 Sounds carried
clearly。 From the Welton's； down the street； came the tinkle of a
mandolin and an occasional low laugh from the group of young people
that nightly frequented the front steps。 Tree toads chirped in
unison or fell abruptly silent as though by signal。 All up and down
the rows of houses whirred the low monotone of the lawn sprinklers；
and the aroma of their wetness was borne cool and refreshing through
the tepid air。
Orde and his wife sat together on the top step。 He slipped his arm
about her。 They said nothing； but breathed deep of the quiet
happiness that filled their lives。
The gate latch clicked and two shadowy figures defined themselves
approaching up the concrete walk。
〃Hullo！〃 called Orde cheerfully into the darkness。
〃Hullo！〃 a man's voice instantly responded。
〃Taylor and Clara；〃 said Orde to Carroll with satisfaction。 〃Just
the man I wanted to see。〃
The lawyer and his wife mounted the steps。 He was a quick；
energetic； spare man； with lean cheeks； a bristling； clipped
moustache； and a slight stoop to his shoulders。 She was small；
piquant； almost child…like； with a dainty up…turned nose； a large
and lustrous eye； a constant； bird…like animation of mannerthe
Folly of artists； the adorable； lovable； harmless Folly standing
tiptoe on a complaisant world。
〃Just the man I wanted to see；〃 repeated Orde； as the two
approached。
Clara Taylor stopped short and considered him for a moment。
〃Let us away；〃 she said seriously to Carroll。 〃My prophetic soul
tells me they are going to talk business； and if any more business
is talked in my presence； I shall EXPIRE！〃
Both men laughed； but Orde explained apologetically：
〃Well； you know； Mrs。 Taylor； these are my especially busy days for
the firm； and I have to work my private affairs in when I can。〃
〃I thought Frank was very solicitous about my getting out in the
air；〃 cried Clara。 〃Come； Carroll； let's wander down the street and
see Mina Heinzman。〃
The two interlocked arms and sauntered along the walk。 Both men lit
cigars and sat on the top step of the porch。
〃Look here； Taylor；〃 broke in Orde abruptly； 〃you told me the other
day you had fifteen or twenty thousand you wanted to place
somewhere。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Taylor。
〃Well； I believe I have just the proposition。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃California pine；〃 replied Orde。
〃California pine？〃 repeated Taylor； after a slight pause。 〃Why
California？ That's a long way off。 And there's no market； is
there？ Why way out there？〃
〃It's cheap；〃 replied Orde succinctly。 〃I don't say it will be good
for i