old him that Eva had called
and asked about him. But that was enough to keep him awake nearly all
night; and long before the table was set, the next morning, they heard
him walking slowly up and down the pathway worn in the carpet. In the
office he sat musing. The boy came in to tell him that at five o'clock
he had helped Warren on the road to be married, and that he had left
strict instructions that Lyman should be told not to forget the supper
at the cottage. The boy went out and Lyman stood at the window,
looking across at the bank. Presently he saw McElwin bow with dignity
to a man whom he met in front of the door and then enter the place.
The boy came in again and holding out a piece of "copy" written badly,
asked him to read the first line. It was a notice of the meeting of
the Chancery court. The boy returned to his work and Lyman continued
to gaze at the bank. Suddenly a smile, not altogether soft, but half
cynical, lighted up his face; and at the same instant he reached for
his hat. Straightway he went to the bank and sent his name into the
private office. McElwin came to the door.

"Why, come in, Mr. Lyman," he said cordially, extending his hand.
Lyman shook hands with him and entered the room. The great clock began
to strike. McElwin looked up at it and then said: "Have a seat,
please."

Lyman sat down. McElwin did not permit the silence to become
embarrassing. "Mr. Sawyer told me all about it, sir; he kept nothing
back, although he must have seen that I could not help honoring you.
Mr. Lyman, you have taught us all a lesson, sir, and I am more than
pleased to see that you are prospering. It is more than likely," he
went on, crossing his legs, "that you may soon seek some sort of
investment for your money. Idle money, sir, is like an idle mind--a
mischief to the community; and if you should desire to invest--"

"I can't afford to engage in trade," Lyman broke in. "Of course," he
added, "trade is a good thing in its way, a sort of necessity, but
the English have the right idea of it, after all--drawing a
distinction between the tradesman and the gentleman. I remember a
remark old Sam Johnson made concerning a fellow who had grown rich
enough to stop buying and selling--'he had lost the servility of the
tradesman without having acquired the manners of a gentleman.'"

McElwin bit his lip. "I didn't mean any offense," he said.

"Oh, surely not, and I have taken none. By the way, Mr. McElwin,
Chancery court