they should be up or down, either or both, and how
much--had been settled, and, as usual in such dilemmas, by Miss Blake,
the drive up town was comparatively a silent one. John's mind was
occupied with sundry reflections and speculations, of many of which his
companion was the subject, and to some extent in noting the changes in
the streets and buildings which an absence of two years made noticeable
to him.

Mary looked steadily out of window, lost in her own thoughts save for an
occasional brief response to some casual comment or remark of John's.
Mr. Carling had muffled himself past all talking, and his wife preserved
the silence which was characteristic of her when unurged.

John was set down at Thirty-third Street, and, as he made his adieus,
Mrs. Carling said, "Do come and see us as soon as you can, Mr. Lenox";
but Miss Blake simply said "Good-by" as she gave him her hand for an
instant, and he went on to his father's house.

He let himself in with the latch-key which he had carried through all
his absence, but was at once encountered by Jeffrey, who, with his wife,
had for years constituted the domestic staff of the Lenox household.

"Well, Jeff," said John, as he shook hands heartily with the old
servant, "how are you? and how is Ann? You don't look a day older, and
the climate seems to agree with you, eh?"

"You're welcome home, Mr. John," replied Jeffrey, "and thank you, sir.
Me and Ann is very well, sir. It's a pleasure to see you again and home.
It is, indeed."

"Thank you, Jeff," said John. "It's rather nice to be back. Is my room
ready?"

"Yes, sir," said Jeffrey, "I think it's all right, though we thought
that maybe it 'd be later in the day when you got here, sir. We thought
maybe you'd go to Mr. Lenox's office first."

"I did intend to," said John, mounting the stairs, followed by Jeffrey
with his bag, "but I had a chance to drive up with some friends, and the
day is so beastly that I took advantage of it. How is my father?" he
asked after entering the chamber, which struck him as being so strangely
familiar and so familiarly strange.

"Well, sir," said Jeffrey, "he's much about the same most ways, and then
again he's different, too. Seeing him every day, perhaps I wouldn't
notice so much; but if I was to say that he's kind of quieter, perhaps
that'd be what I mean, sir."

"Well," said John, smiling, "my father was about the quietest person I
ever knew, and if he's grown more so--what do you