hen he is old enough and steady enough, we will set him up
in some line of business which he may choose--eh, Milly?--that is, if
he shows any aptitude for a mercantile life; and he may work his way
thence to the Chief Magistracy, if he find the path which he imagines
lies open to him. As for Bill, he runs Wall Street, you know; and his
voice, and talent for music, would make _his_ way in the world. There
is something that must be cultivated."

"Do you mean, Millicent, that you are actually going to refuse my offer
for Jim?" said uncle Rutherford, in a tone of deep displeasure; for he
did not like to be circumvented when he had set his mind upon a thing,
especially if it chanced to be one of his philanthropic schemes. And
that same quick temper, which he had found his own bane, showed itself
now, in the flush which mounted to his brow, and the sudden flash which
shot from his eyes. "Then, my dear, all I have to say is----"

_That_ was all he had to say; and Milly escaped something which would
have hurt her feelings, and which uncle Rutherford himself would have
regretted when another moment should have passed, for aunt Emily laid
her hand upon his arm, half-whispering, as a noted imperial wife was
once wont to do to her impetuous and fiery lord, "Nicholas, Nicholas!"
and with a like, calming effect, for further words were arrested on his
lips.

There was a little awkward silence for a moment; then, as if by a
sudden inspiration, uncle Rutherford said pleasantly,--

"How absurd we all are! What need for either boy to know that he is a
rival to the other? Put the reward before each one, and tell him that
the winning of it depends upon himself, and then we shall see."

So, then, was it settled, to the satisfaction of all; uncle Rutherford,
it is true, a little disappointed that the stimulus of emulation was
not to enter into the contest; and the discussion was here brought to a
close by the appearance of Bill with a box of flowers "for Miss Amy."

But there was a factor in the case, upon which we had not counted.

In the privacy of their room over the stable, Bill and Jim held
converse that night; and this was the substance of their communing,
divested of unnecessary adornments of speech, with which those young
gentlemen were wont to garnish their conversation when removed from the
restraints of polite society.

"There's a big thing up for you, Jim," said Bill. "You'll hear of it
yourself soon, I guess, from Miss Mi