n--nay, long before--both Mr. Lawrence Fernald
for whom he was named, and his father, Mr. Clarence Fernald, had
planned how he should inherit the great mills and carry on the business
they had founded. For years they had talked and talked of what should
happen when Mr. Laurie grew up. And then had come the sudden and
terrible illness, and after weeks of anxiety everybody realized that if
Mr. Laurie lived he would be fortunate, and that he would never be able
to carry on any business at all.

In what hushed tones the townspeople talked of the tragedy and how they
speculated on what the Fernalds would do _now_. And how surprised the
superintendent of one of the mills (who, by the way, had six husky boys
of his own) had been to have Mr. Lawrence Fernald bridle with rage when
he said he was sorry for him. A proud old man was Mr. Fernald, senior.
He did not fancy being pitied, as his employees soon found out. Possibly
Mr. Clarence Fernald did not like it any better but whether he did or
not he at least had the courtesy not to show his feelings.

Thus the years had passed and Mr. Laurie had grown from childhood to
boyhood. He could now ride about in a motor-car if lifted into it; but
he could still walk very little, although specialists had not given up
hope that perhaps in time he might be able to do so. There was a rumor
that he was strapped into a steel jacket which he was forced to wear
continually, and the mill hands commented on its probable discomfort
and wondered how the boy could always keep so even-tempered. For it was
unavoidable that the large force of servants from Aldercliffe and Pine
Lea should neighbor back and forth with the townsfolk and in this way
many a tale of Mr. Laurie's rare disposition reached the village. And
even had not these stories been rife, anybody could easily have guessed
the patience and sweetness of Mr. Laurie's nature from his smile.

Among the employees of Fernald and Company he was popularly known as
the Little Master and between him and them there existed a friendliness
which neither his father nor his grandfather had ever been able to call
out. The difference was that for Mr. Lawrence Fernald the men did only
what they were paid to do; for Mr. Clarence they did fully what they
were paid to do; and for Mr. Laurie they would gladly have done what
they were paid to do and a great deal more.

"The poor lad!" they murmured one to another. "The poor little chap!"

Of course it followed