The question was, what course to take.

"I believe Rose likes Jack," said Jenvie. "She grieved exceedingly when
he went away, though she hid it so superbly that only her mother knew
about it, and she has rejected every suitor since except Stetson, and
I fear when the climax comes she will reject him. The chances are, when
Jack comes they will rush into each other's arms. At the same time, I do
not want him for a son-in-law. But I would like to get some of the money
into the firm, for we need more capital badly."

They plotted all that day, and next morning decided that on the arrival
of Jack they would welcome him; let the matter between him and Rose take
its course, but in case of an engagement would prevent an immediate
marriage, if possible, and see, in the meantime, what could be done
toward working Jack for a part, at least, of his money. With that
arrangement decided upon, when a message came from Hamlin's home that
Jack had returned and had gone to the hotel, they were ready, and in
company went to greet him and escort him home.

Sedgwick had to be invited also, and that suited them, for they both
desired to know what kind of a man he was. Both were satisfied, too, that
he had no money, or he would have obtained a credit where Jack had
obtained his exchange. When, at the first dinner, Grace had drawn from
him that he had been in Texas and had seen cowboys, they both guessed
where he had caught the trick which he had put in practice in Devonshire,
and, thenceforth, save as a careless friend that careless Jack had picked
up, they dropped Sedgwick from their calculations.

How Jack got his money was the greatest mystery; and so a few days after
his coming, his father said to him: "Jack, I hope you have come home to