days when, a little lad of twelve or fourteen, he had come to his
uncle's office with a tutor, or even with an old, and very proud,
nurse, for the occasional visits which always terminated with the
delighted acceptance by Peter of a gold piece from Uncle Josiah. But
Susan only knew him as a man, twenty-five now, a wonderful and
fascinating person to watch, even, in happy moments, to dream about.

"You know I met him, Thorny," she said now, eager and smiling.

"'S'at so?" Miss Thornton said, politely uninterested.

"Yes, old Baxter introduced me, on a car. But, Thorny, he can't be
coming right down here into this rotten place!" protested Susan.

"He'll have a desk in Brauer's office," Miss Thornton explained. "He
is to learn this branch, and be manager some day. George says that
Brauer is going to buy into the firm."

"Well, for Heaven's sake!" Susan's thoughts flew. "But, Thorny," she
presently submitted, "isn't Peter Coleman in college?"

Miss Thornton looked mysterious, looked regretful.

"I understand old J. G.'s real upset about that," she said
discreetly, "but just what the trouble was, I'm not at liberty to
mention. You know what young men are."

"Sure," said Susan, thoughtfully.

"I don't mean that there was any scandal," Miss Thornton amended