d, "why, your fortune is as good as made. Sandy Graham has been
mad at me for the space of twenty-five years or more about something or
other--what was it now? Bless me if I haven't forgotten what. But he
nearly left the church over it, and entirely left the law firm of
Brians & Co." The bereaved head of the firm put back his head at the
recollection, shut his eyes, and laughed long and heartily. "But
you've got him back again all right, and I tell you this, my lad, if
you get his business your fortune is just about made. Only don't go
and lose your heart to the handsome young lady while you need a steady
head!"

They drove away, and while the father talked on the drive home of the
sermon, the son answered absently; his thoughts were all with the piece
of good luck which had come his way by such a mere chance.

CHAPTER VIII

"FLOATED THE GLEAM"

Ever since Leslie Graham was old enough to know what she wanted she had
always managed to get it. She was the only child of wealthy parents,
as Algonquin counted wealth. Her father was absorbed in business, and
felt he had done his duty by his daughter when he gave her money enough
to be the best dressed girl in the town. Her mother's creed in regard
to bringing up children was to give the dears a good time when they
were young, they would grow old soon enough. So Leslie's time and
energies were bent to the two main tasks of life, unconsciously set her
by her parents, to spend as much money as possible on clothes, and to
have a good time.

She had been named, as many another girl of the congregation, Margaret
Leslie, after the minister's wife; she was a member of the church; she
had been brought up to attend Sunday-school and mission band, and to be
helpful in all social functions of the congregation; and withal she was
frankly and happily, and entirely pagan.

The earliest lesson life had taught her was that, if she wanted
anything, screams generally produced the desired object. The second
lesson was that, when screams failed, one must scramble down from one's
high chair and go after the prize and wrest it from table or sideboard
or high eminence, no matter how much hard climbing or bumps were
entailed.

So when Roderick McRae became desirable in her eyes, in her usual
straightforward manner, she frankly sought him out and demanded his
attention. His sudden appearance on the evening of her loss of
self-confidence, the appeal his rescue had made to her