“If you’d like to take your wife for a drive there’s the Spider.  The child will want to show you her pony and will probably get you off on some excursion.  Tell her there is time enough and not to make you do two days’ work in one.”

After breakfast the trio adjourned to the piazza and Julia looked out on the thick, dewy grass and spreading trees.

“I believe the park improves, father,” said Harry, smiling as he noted his wife’s delight in the charming landscape.

Deep armchairs and tables, rugs and a wicker divan furnished a portion of the piazza.  “How will little Jewel like the apartment after this?” Julia could not help asking herself the question mentally.  She no longer wondered at the child’s content here, even without the companionship of other children.  It must be an unimaginative little maid who, supported by Anna Belle, could not weave a fairy-land in this fresh paradise.

“Won’t you be seated?” said the broker, waving his hand toward the chairs.  The others obeyed as he took his place.  “Let us know a little, now, what we are doing.  What did I understand you to say, Harry, is your limit for time?”

“Well, I ought, really, to go west to-morrow, father.”

Mr. Evringham nodded and turned his incisive glance upon his daughter-in-law.  “And you, Julia?”

She smiled brightly at him.  He observed that her complexion bore the sunlight well.  “Oh, Jewel and I go with him, of course,” she responded, confident that her reply would convey satisfaction.

“H’m.  Indeed!  Now it seems to me that you would be the better for a vacation.”

“Why!  Haven’t I just had a trip to Europe?”

“Yes, I should think you had.  From all that Harry tells me, I judge what with hunting up fashions and fabrics and corset-makers and all the rest of it, you have done the work, daily, of about two able-bodied men.”

“That’s right,” averred Harry.  “I was too much of a greenhorn to give her much assistance.”

“Still, you understand your own end of the business, I take it,” said his father, turning suddenly upon him.

“Yes, I do.  I believe the firm will say I’m the square peg in the square hole.”

“Then why not take a vacation, Julia?” asked the broker again.

“Harry is doing splendidly,” she returned gently, “but we can’t live on the salary he gets now.  He needs my help for a while, yet.  I’m going to be a lady of leisure some day.”  The broker caught the glance of confidence she sent his boy.

“I’m screwing up my courage now to strike them for more,” said Harry.  “It frets me worse every day to see that girl delving away, and a great strapping, hulking chap like me not able to prevent it.”

His father looked gravely at the young wife.  “Let him begin now,” he said.  “He doesn’t need your apron string any longer.”

“What do you mean?” asked Julia, half timidly.

“Stay here with me a while and let Harry go west.  I will take you and Jewel to the seashore.”