Gratefully your old friend,

Matthew.

“Eleanor, have you five minutes to spare for me?” Judge Gray, his old friend’s note in hand, hailed his brother’s wife as she passed the open door of his library.  She came in at once, and, though she was in the midst of household affairs, sat down with that delightful air of having all the time in the world to spare for one who needed her, which was one of her endearing characteristics.

When she had heard the note she nodded her head thoughtfully.  “I think the grandfather may well congratulate himself that the grandson has fallen into your hands, Calvin,” said she.  “The work you give him may not be to him the interesting task it would be to some men, but it will undoubtedly do him good to be harnessed to any labour which means a bit of drudgery.  By all means do as Mr. Kendrick bids you—­’work him hard.’” She smiled.  “I wonder what the boy would think of Louis’s work.”

“He would take to his heels, probably, if it were offered him.  It’s plain that Matthew’s pleased enough at having him tackle a gentleman’s task like this, and hopes to make it a stepping-stone to something more muscular.  I shall do my best by Richard, as he asks.  You note that he wants the young man to meet us all.  Are you willing to invite him to dinner some time—­perhaps next week—­as a special favour to me?”

“Certainly, Calvin, if you consider young Mr. Kendrick in every way fit to know our young people.”

Her fine eyes met his penetratingly, and he smiled in his turn.  “That’s like you, Eleanor,” said he, “to think first of the boy’s character and last of his wealth.”

“A fig for his wealth!” she retorted with spirit.  “I have two daughters.”

“I have made inquiries,” said he with dignity, “of Louis, who knows young Kendrick as one young man knows another, which is to the full.  He considers him to be more or less of an idler, and as much of a spendthrift as a fellow in possession of a large income is likely to be in spite of the cautions of a prudent grandfather.  He has a passion for travel and is correspondingly restless at home.  But Louis thinks him to be a young man of sufficiently worthy tastes and standards to have escaped the worst contaminations, and he says he has never heard anything to his discredit.  That is considerable to say of a young man in his position, Eleanor, and I hope it may constitute enough of a passport to your favour to permit of your at least inviting him to dinner.  Besides—­let me remind you—­your daughters have standards of their own which you have given them.  Ruth is a girl yet, of course, but a mighty discerning one for sixteen.  As for Roberta, I’ll wager no young millionaire is any more likely to get past her defences than any young mechanic—­unless he proves himself fit.”

“I am confident of that,” she agreed, and with her charming gray head held high went on about her household affairs.