said Jack, "from my
salary and commissions. I'll put that in. Gifford & Company'll send
you things cheap. But, Father,--I belong in the city. I've seen
hundreds of boys there who didn't belong there, but I do. Let's go
back to the house. Bob and Jim--"

"Well, maybe you're right," said his father, slowly. "Come, let us go
home. Your mother has hardly been able to wait to see you."

When they came in sight of the house, the stoop and the front gate were
thronged with home-folk, but Jack could not see clearly for a moment.
The sunshine, or something else, got into his eyes. Then there were
pairs of arms, large and small, embracing him, and,--well, it was a
happy time, and Mary was there and his mother, and the family were all
together once more.

"How you have grown!" said his aunt. "_How_ you have grown!"

"I do wish you'd come home to stay!" exclaimed his mother.

"Perhaps he will," said his father, and Mary had hardly said a word
till then, but now it seemed to burst out in spite of her.

"Oh Jack!" she said. "If I could go back with you, when you go! I
could live with a sister of Mrs. Edwards. She's invited me to live
with her for a whole year. And I could finish my education, and be
really fit to teach. I've saved some money."

"Mary!" answered Jack, "I can pay all the other expenses. Do come!"

"Yes, you'd better go, Jack," said his father, thoughtfully. "I am
sure that you are a city boy."

That was a great vacation, but no trout were now to be caught in the
Cocahutchie. The new store on the corner was to be opened in the
autumn, and Jack insisted upon having it painted a bright red about the
windows. There were visits to Mertonville, and there were endless
talks about what Jack's land was going to be worth, some day. But the
days flew by, and soon his time was up and he had to go back to the
city. He and Mary went together, and they went down the Hudson River
in the steamer "Columbia."

Mr. Dudley Edwards, of Mertonville, went at the same time to attend to
some law business, he said, in New York.

Jack told Mr. Gifford all about the Crofield town-lots, and his
employer answered:

"That is the thing for you, Ogden; you'll have some capital, when you
come of age, and then we can take you in as a junior partner. You
belong in the city. I couldn't take you in any sooner, you know. We
don't want a boy."

"That's just what you told me," said Jack roguishly, "the first time I
cam