extended its operations, it would acquire even more credit?"

"Yes."

"Because people, believing in the solvency of the Bank, would suppose
that it extended itself because it had more means?"

"Yes."

"And would not feel any dust in their eyes?"

"No," said Mr. Newt, following his son closely.

"Well, then; don't you see?"

"No, I don't see," replied the father; "that is, I don't see what you
mean."

"Why, father, look here! I come into your business. The fact is known.
People look. There's no whisper against the house. We extend ourselves;
we live liberally, but we pay the bills. Every body says, 'Newt & Son are
doing a thumping business.' Perhaps we are--perhaps we are not. We are
crossing the bridge of credit. Before people know that we have been
living up to our incomes--quite up, father dear"--Mr. Newt frowned an
entire assent--"we have plenty of money!"

"How, in Heaven's name!" cried Boniface Newt, springing up, and in so
loud a tone that the clerks looked in from the outer office.

"By my marriage," returned Abel, quietly.

"With whom?" asked Mr. Newt, earnestly.

"With an heiress."

"What's her name?"

"Just what I am trying to find out," replied Abel, lightly, as he threw
his cigar away. "And now I put it to you, father, as a man of the world
and a sensible, sagacious, successful merchant, am I not more likely to
meet and marry such a girl, if I live generously in society, than if I
shut myself up to be a mere dig?"

Mr. Newt was not sure. Perhaps it was so. Upon the whole, it probably was
so.

Mr. Abel did not happen to suggest to his father that, for the purpose of
marrying an heiress, if he should ever chance to be so fortunate as to
meet one, and, having met her, to become enamored so that he might be
justified in wooing her for his wife--that for all these contingencies
it was a good thing for a young man to have a regular business connection
and apparent employment--and very advantageous, indeed, that that
connection should be with a man so well known in commercial and
fashionable circles as his father. That of itself was one of the great
advantages of credit. It was a frequent joke of Abel's with his father,
after the recent conversation, that credit was the most creditable thing
going.

CHAPTER XXX.

CHECK.

During these brilliant days of young bachelorhood Abel, by some curious
chance, had not met Hope Wayne, who was passing the winter in New York
with her Aunt Dink