isfy even your young ambition. I think, moreover, it is a
necessity for you to accept this, Champney."

"You do; why?"

"Well, for a good many reasons. I doubt, in the first place, if these
quarries can get under full running headway for the next seven years,
and even if you had been offered some position of trust in connection
with them, you haven't had an opportunity to prove yourself worthy of it
in a business way. I doubt, too, if the salary would be any larger; it
is certainly a fair one for the work he offers." She consulted the
letter. "Twelve hundred for the first year, and for every succeeding
year an additional five hundred. What more could you expect,
inexperienced as you are? Many men have to give their services gratis
for a while to obtain entrance into such offices and have their names,
even, connected with such a financier. This opportunity is a business
asset. I feel convinced, moreover, that you need just this discipline."

"Why?"

"For some other good reasons. For one, you would be brought into daily
contact with men, experienced men, of various nationalities--"

"You can be that in New York. There isn't a city in the world where you
can gain such a cosmopolitan experience." He was still protesting, still
insisting. His mother made no reply, nor did she notice the
interruption.

"--Learn their ways, their point of view. All this would be of infinite
help if, later on, you should come into a position of great
responsibility in connection with the quarry syndicate.--It does seem so
strange that hundreds will make their livelihood from our barren
pastures!" She spoke almost to herself, and for a moment they were
silent.

"And look at this invitation to cross in his yacht with his family!
Champney, you know perfectly well nothing could be more courteous or
thoughtful; it saves your passage money, and it shows plainly his
interest in you personally."

"I know; that part isn't half bad." He spoke with interest and less
reluctance. "I saw the yacht last spring lying in North River; she's a
perfect floating palace they say. Of course, I appreciate the
invitation; but supposing--only supposing, you know,"--this as a warning
not to take too much for granted,--"I should accept. How could I live on
twelve hundred a year? He spends twice that on a cook. How does he think
a fellow is going to dress and live on that? 'T was a tight squeeze in
college on thirteen hundred."

His mother knew his way so well,