d
before you many a day."

"Discredit! No, that is not the thing. But I can do something better
for myself than that; I am going to try at least."

"If self is your first consideration--But, Clifton, whether you think it
or not, you could do much in the business, and you are needed in it.
Jacob has more on his hands than he can do well, and even if he had not,
it is your affair that the business should prosper as well as his. All
we have is in it, and what do any of us know as to how our affairs
stand? We are altogether in Jacob's hands."

"Come, now, Lizzie! Let Cousin Betsey and the rest of them run down
Jacob. It is rather hard on him that his own sister should join them.
I believe he is an honest man--as honesty among business men goes."

"I am not speaking of honesty or dishonesty. But Jacob is not such a
man of business as our father was."

"No, but with his chances, he cannot but be carrying on a prosperous
business. Oh, I'll risk Jacob."

"But, Clifton, all that we have is in the business, and we ought to
know."

"Why, Lizzie! who ever thought before that you were mercenary and
suspicious, and I don't know what else besides? What has Jacob been
doing to `aggravate' you lately, that you should be down on him?"

"Clifton, you must not dismiss the matter so lightly. I am thinking far
more of you than of myself. You can never do better for yourself
anywhere, and why should you change your plans now, after all these
years?"

"Have I ever said that I was to stay in Gershom? I don't say that I
won't come back for good, some time. Gershom does seem to be the place
for a halt but as to going into the business right away, no, I thank
you."

"I think you are wrong."

"Nonsense! What do you suppose, now, Jacob would do if I were to bring
him to book, and claim a right to know all about his business
transactions, and his plans and prospects? It would be a mere farce my
making believe to go into the business."

"Possibly you might make it so, but it need not be so. But I cannot
think it wise or right for you to go to Montreal. It is like setting
aside the plans of your whole life to leave Gershom."

"No; you are mistaken. Though I have said nothing about it, I have not
this many a day meant to settle down here. I may ultimately `hang out
my shingle' here, or I may be appointed judge of the district by and by,
and then I'll come back and be a bigger man than Jacob, even."

But Elizabeth co