“I’ll see about it, Herbert,” answered his father, smiling.

CHAPTER XII

MRS. ESTABROOK’S PLANS

Grant was going home with Mr. Reynolds at the close of the fourth day, when it occurred to him to say what had been in his mind for some time:  “Isn’t it time, Mr. Reynolds, for me to be looking out for a boarding place?”

The broker smiled, and said with assumed concern:  “Are you dissatisfied with your present boarding place?”

“How could I be, sir?” returned Grant, earnestly.  “But you told me I could stay with you a week, while I was looking about for a suitable place to board.”

“That is true.  Now, however, there is a difficulty about your making a change.”

“What is that, sir?”

“Herbert would not give his consent.  The fact is, Grant, Herbert finds so much pleasure in your society, and derives so much advantage from the increased exercise you lead him to take, that I think you will have to make up your mind to stay.”

Grant’s face showed the pleasure he felt.

“I shall be very glad to stay, Mr. Reynolds,” he answered, “if you are willing to have me.”

“I had this in view from the first,” said the broker, “but I wanted to see how you and Herbert got along.  I wished to be sure, also, that your influence on him would be good.  Of that I can have no doubt, and I am glad to receive you as a member of my family.”

There was one member of the household, however, who was not so well pleased with the proposed arrangement.  This was Mrs. Estabrook, the housekeeper.

As the week drew to a close, she said, one evening after the boys had retired: 

“How much longer is the office boy to stay here, Mr. Reynolds?”

“Why do you ask?” inquired the broker.

“Only with reference to domestic arrangements,” answered the housekeeper, disconcerted.

“He will remain for a considerable time, Mrs. Estabrook.”

“I—­I thought he was only going to stay a week.”

“He is company for Herbert, and I think it desirable to keep him.”

“Herbert soils his clothes a deal more now than he used to do,” said the housekeeper, discontentedly.  “I am sure I don’t know where the other boy carries him.”

“Nor I, but I am not afraid to trust him with Grant.  As to the clothes, I consider them of very small account, compared with my boy’s health.”

Mrs. Estabrook knitted in silence for five minutes.  She was by no means pleased with her employer’s plan, having taken a dislike to Grant, for which, indeed, her chief reason was jealousy.  She had a stepson, a young man of twenty-one, in Mr. Reynolds’ office, whom she would like to have in the house in place of Grant.  But Mr. Reynolds had never taken notice of her occasional hints to that effect.  The housekeeper’s plans were far-reaching.  She knew that Herbert was delicate, and doubted if