poke so aphoristically that Mr. Goodchild thought it was a quotation
from Ecclesiastes.

H. R. took the ring out of his waistcoat pocket and gave it to Grace.

"Here, my love!"

It was a magnificent green diamond, the rarest of all. Mrs. Goodchild
rose quickly and said, "Let me see it!" Mother-like, being concerned
with her only daughter's happiness, she took the ring to the window.

Grace followed. It was her ring.

"Say, Big Chief," H. R. asked his prospective father-in-law, "do I get
the sand--do I get some slices of bread with some slices of viands, two
breads to one viand, and a cup of tea?"

"Tea be hanged! Have a man's drink," hospitably and diplomatically said
Mr. Goodchild. There was still a chance of escaping. He knew what
violent opposition had done to sentimental daughters.

"Yes, but you'll have to allow us a decent rate of interest on our
balances."

"How much do you carry?" asked Mr. Goodchild, carelessly.

"Enough for Dawson to offer three per cent. But let us not talk
business here. I'll call on you to-morrow.

"All right. But Dawson can't do it, not even on time deposits, and--"

"Scotch for mine," said H. R. "Is Frederick coming?"

Mr. Goodchild was, after all, a gentleman. He rang for Frederick. He
also was thirsty.

"Hendrik, it's beautiful," said Grace, enthusiastically. "But are you
perfectly sure you can--"

"Empress, don't you wish it done?"

"Of course."

"Then, of course, it is done. You'll be able to yell '_sandwich_'!
anywhere in New York and nobody will think of anything except that you
are the most beautiful girl in the world. Give me another before
Frederick brings 'em."

"Brings what?"

"Lamb chops!" answered H. R., who was a humorist of the New York school.
"Quick!" And he kissed her twice.

"We'll have tea up-stairs if you're really going to be one of the
family," said Mrs. Goodchild, with the dubious smile so familiar on the
faces of mothers of New York girls.

"Come, Grace!" said H. R., taking her by the unringed hand. He knew
better--by instinct.

It was a very satisfactory day. Such was the compelling force of his
self-confidence that before he left the house Mr. and Mrs. Goodchild
sincerely hoped he could accomplish the impossible and wipe out the
sandwich stain from the old Knickerbocker name of Rutgers.

XXIX

The next morning H. R. called Andrew Barrett into the inner office.

"Shut the door," said he.

Andrew Barrett did so and looked