“Have you been to New York often?” asked the girl, smiling.

“I have been there twice in the last thirty years; but I spent several winters there when I was a young girl.  I suppose it has changed a good deal in that time?”

The young lady also supposed that it had changed in that time, and wondered why Miss Brooke—­the name the other had given—­did not come to New York oftener.

“You see, it is such an undertaking to go now,” said the old lady.  “Everything goes with such a rush that it takes my breath away.  Why, three trains a day each way pass near my home now.  One of them actually rushes by in the most impetuous and disdainful way.  When I was young we used to go to the station at least an hour before the train was due, and had time to take out our knitting and compose our thoughts; but now one has to be at the station just as promptly as if one were going to church, and if you don’t get on the train almost before it has stopped, the dreadful thing is gone before you know it.  I must say, it is very destructive to one’s nerves.”

Her companion laughed.

“I don’t know what you will think when you get to New York.”

“Think!  I don’t expect to think at all.  I shall just shut my eyes and trust to Providence.”

“Your friends will meet you there, I suppose?”

“I wrote them two weeks ago that I should be there to-day, and then my cousin wrote me to let her know the train, and I replied, telling her what train I expected to take.  I would never have come if I had imagined we were going to have this trouble.”

The girl reassured her by telling her that even if her friends did not meet her, she would put her in the way of reaching them safely.  And in a little while they drew into the station.

Keith’s first impression of New York was dazzling to him.  The rush, the hurry, stirred him and filled him with a sense of power.  He felt that here was the theatre of action for him.

The offices of Wickersham & Company were in one of the large buildings down-town.  The whole floor was filled with pens and railed-off places, beyond which lay the private offices of the firm.  Mr. Wickersham was “engaged,” and Keith had to wait for an hour or two before he could secure an interview with him.  When at length he was admitted to Mr. Wickersham’s inner office, he was received with some cordiality.  His father was asked after, and a number of questions about Gumbolt were put to him.  Then Mr. Wickersham came to the point.  He had a high regard for his father, he said, and having heard that Gordon was living in Gumbolt, where they had some interests, it had occurred to him that he might possibly be able to give him a position.  The salary would not be large at first, but if he showed himself capable it might lead to something better.

Keith was thrilled, and declared that what he most wanted was work and opportunity to show that he was able to work.  Mr. Wickersham was sure of this, and informed him briefly that it was outdoor work that they had for him—­“the clearing up of titles and securing of such lands as we may wish to obtain,” he added.