t eighteen, stout, and growing tall
rapidly. There was about him a sturdy persistence and the good common
sense that lends an adaptiveness or pliability of disposition, so to
speak, that is often mistaken for content. Since he must stay here for
some years to come, he would devote himself to learning the business of
manufacturing woollen cloth. It entertained him more than keeping books.
For the sake of these two bereaved women, he would take an actual
interest in the work he had to do.

Looking back in after-years, he was glad he made the resolve, and stood
by it manfully. It gave ballast to his character, shaped him to a
definite purpose. A narrow life, to be sure; nay, more, a distasteful
one: but he did his best, and waited, and that was all that could be
asked of him.

Early in June there was a great commotion at the mansion on Hope
Terrace. Miss Agatha Lawrence was married to Hamilton Minor, one of the
great firm of brokers in Wall Street, 'Morgan, Minor, & Co.' For weeks
it had been the talk of the town. The trousseau came from Paris, and was
marvellous. The presents were on exhibition, and created a vast amount
of envy and admiration,--silver, jewels, pictures, crystal, china, and
laces. And last of all a sumptuous wedding,--every delicacy in season
and out of season, costly wines, pyramids of cake, and a lavish
profusion of flowers. Nothing so grand had ever occurred in Yerbury.

Fred and a stylish Miss Minor were to stand. He reached home just in
time; and, as he was to be off again with the bridal party, he sent a
note of regret to Jack.

Jack had too much good sense to feel hurt, though he was disappointed. A
few weeks later he took his mother and grandmother up to the mountains
for change of air, and enjoyed the vacation hugely himself. So it
happened he did not see Fred at all.

The second year letters languished, indeed failed, I may as well admit.
Jack was being rapidly inducted into the wisdom of the world, Fred into
the wisdom of society. They would never meet on the old plane again. The
mill-hand would be no companion for the son and heir of David Lawrence,
Esq.

It was not in Jack Darcy's nature to be bitter or cynical. He just
accepted the fact. Somewhere he and Fred had outgrown each other, and
the boyish interests, once such a bond of union. Fred would be an
educated and cultivated gentleman.

Why should he be left in the background? His ambition was suddenly
roused again, and he more tha