ll be glad to do so."

"Mr. Thorndike leaves in the morning, and I am not quite clear as to
one of the specifications he gave me with his order. You noticed the
gentleman who went through the factory with me?"

"Yes, sir."

"He is Mr. Thorndike. Please hand him this note, and if he wishes you to
remain with him for company, you had better do so."

"I will, sir."

"Hannah," said Mr. Jennings, as his messenger left with the note, "Carl
is a pleasant addition to our little household?"

"Yes, indeed he is," responded Hannah, emphatically.

"If he was twice the trouble I'd be glad to have him here."

"He is easy to get along with."

"Surely."

"Yet his stepmother drove him from his father's house."

"She's a wicked trollop, then!" said Hannah, in a deep, stern voice.
"I'd like to get hold of her, I would."

"What would you do to her?" asked Mr. Jennings, smiling.

"I'd give her a good shaking," answered Hannah.

"I believe you would, Hannah," said Mr. Jennings, amused. "On the whole,
I think she had better keep out of your clutches. Still, but for her we
would never have met with Carl. What is his father's loss is our gain."

"What a poor, weak man his father must be," said Hannah, contemptuously,
"to let a woman like her turn him against his own flesh and blood!"

"I agree with you, Hannah. I hope some time he may see his mistake."

Carl kept on his way to the hotel. It was summer and Mr. Thorndike was
sitting on the piazza smoking a cigar. To him Carl delivered the note.

"It's all right!" he said, rapidly glancing it over. "You may tell
Mr. Jennings," and here he gave an answer to the question asked in the
letter.

"Yes, sir, I will remember."

"Won't you sit down and keep me company a little while?" asked
Thorndike, who was sociably inclined.

"Thank you, sir," and Carl sat down in a chair beside him.

"Will you have a cigar?"

"No, thank you, sir. I don't smoke."

"That is where you are sensible. I began to smoke at fourteen, and now I
find it hard to break off. My doctor tells me it is hurting me, but the
chains of habit are strong."

"All the more reason for forming good habits, sir."

"Spoken like a philosopher. Are you in the employ of my friend, Mr.
Jennings?"

"Yes, sir."

"Learning the business?"

"That is my present intention."

"If you ever come out to Chicago, call on me, and if you are out of a
place, I will give you one."

"Are you not a little rash, Mr. Thorndike, to