that would keep Dick interested. But I guess
he's interested enough or he wouldn't have agreed to my ruling that he
must go into the thing himself, not stand off and throw out a rope to
his drowning friend Benson. If young Benson's the man Dick makes him
out, it's as I told Dick: he wouldn't grasp the rope. But if Dick goes
in after him, that's business. Bless the rascal! I wish his father could
see him now. Sitting on the edge of my table and talking window-dressing
to me as if he'd been born to it, which he was, only he wouldn't accept
his birthright, the proud beggar! Talking about moving one of our
show-windows up there bodily for a white-goods sale in February; date a
trifle late for Kendrick & Company, but advance trade for Eastman,
undoubtedly. Says he knows they can start every mother's daughter of 'em
sewing for dear life, if they can get their eye on that sewing-room
scene. Well"--he paused to chuckle again--"he says Carson says that
window cost us five hundred dollars; but if it did it's cheap at the
price, and I'll make the new firm a present of it. Benson & Company--and
a grandson of Matthew Kendrick the Company!"

He laughed heartily, then paused to stand staring down into the jewelled
shade of his electric drop-light as if in its softly blending colourings
he saw the outlines of a new future for "the boy."

"I wonder what Cal will say to losing his literary assistant," he mused,
smiling to himself. "I doubt if Dick's proved himself invaluable, and I
presume the man he speaks of will give Cal much better service; but I
shall be sorry not to have him going to the Grays' every day; it seemed
like a safe harbour. Well, well, I never thought to find myself
interested again in the fortunes of a country store. Gad! I can't get
over that. The fellow's been too proud to walk down the aisles of
Kendrick & Company to buy his silk socks at cost--preferred to pay two
prices at an exclusive haberdasher's instead! And now--he's going to
have a share in the sale of socks that retail for a quarter, five pairs
for a dollar! O Dick, Dick, you rascal, your old grandfather hasn't been
so happy since you were left to him to bring up. If only you'll stick!
But you're your father's son, after all--and my grandson; I can't help
believing you'll stick!"

CHAPTER XIII

LAVENDER LINEN

"I'm going to drive into town. Any of you girls want to go with me?"

Mr. Rufus Gray addressed his wife and their two guests, his niece