A coolness of some months was the consequence of this little interview.

Time proves all things.  At the end of fifteen years, Mortimer, who had gone on in the way he had begun, was reputed to be worth two hundred thousand dollars.  Every thing he touched turned to money; at least, so it appeared.  His whole conversation was touching handsome operations in trade; and not a day passed in which he had not some story of gains to tell.  Yet, with all his heavy accumulations, he was always engaged in money raising, and his line of discounts was enormous.  Such a thing as proper attention to business was almost out of the question, for nearly his whole time was taken up in financiering—­and some of his financial schemes were on a pretty grand scale.  Watson, on the other hand, had kept plodding along in the old way, making his regular business purchases, and gradually extending his operations, as his profits, changing into capital, enabled him to do so.  He was not anxious to get rich fast; at least, not so anxious as to suffer himself to be tempted from a safe and prudent course; and was, therefore, content to do well.  By this time, his father-in-law began to understand him a little better than at first, and to appreciate him more highly.  On more than one occasion, he had been in want of a few thousand dollars in an emergency, when the check of Watson promptly supplied the pressing need.

As to the real ability of Watson, few were apprised, for he never made a display for the sake of establishing a credit.  But it was known to some, that he generally had a comfortable balance in the bank, and to others that he never exchanged notes, nor asked an endorser on his business paper.  He always purchased for cash, and thus obtained his goods from five to seven per cent cheaper than his neighbors; and rarely put his business paper in bank for discount at a longer date than sixty days.  Under this system, his profits were, usually, ten per cent. more than the profits of many who were engaged in the same branch of trade.  His credit was so good, that the bank where he kept his account readily gave him all the money he asked on his regular paper, without requiring other endorsements; while many of his more dashing neighbors, who were doing half as much business again, were often obliged to go upon the street to raise money at from one to two per cent. a month.  Moreover, as he was always to be found at his store, and ready to give his personal attention to customers, he was able to make his own discriminations and to form his own estimates of men—­and these were generally correct.  The result of this was, that he gradually attracted a class of dealers who were substantial men; and, in consequence, was little troubled with bad sales.

Up to this time, there had been but few changes in the external domestic arrangements of Mr. Watson.  He had moved twice, and, each time, into a larger house.  His increasing family made this necessary.  But, while all was comfortable and even elegant in his dwelling, there was no display whatever.