Jefferson sat as if struck dumb.  He had not thought of that.  Yes, it was true.  His father and the father of the girl he loved were mortal enemies.  How was help to be expected from the head of those “interests” which the judge had always attacked, and now he came to think of it, perhaps his own father was really at the bottom of these abominable charges!  He broke into a cold perspiration and his voice was altered as he said: 

“Yes, I see now, mother.  You are right.”  Then he added bitterly:  “That has always been the trouble at home.  No matter where I turn, I am up against a stone wall—­the money interests.  One never hears a glimmer of fellow-feeling, never a word of human sympathy, only cold calculation, heartless reasoning, money, money, money!  Oh, I am sick of it.  I don’t want any of it.  I am going away where I’ll hear no more of it.”

His mother laid her hand gently on his shoulder.

“Don’t talk that way, Jefferson.  Your father is not a bad man at heart, you know that.  His life has been devoted to money making and he has made a greater fortune than any man living or dead.  He is only what his life has made him.  He has a good heart.  And he loves you—­his only son.  But his business enemies—­ah! those he never forgives.”

Jefferson was about to reply when suddenly a dozen electric bells sounded all over the house.

“What’s that?” exclaimed Jefferson, alarmed, and starting towards the door.

“Oh, that’s nothing,” smiled his mother.  “We have had that put in since you went away.  Your father must have just come in.  Those bells announce the fact.  It was done so that if there happened to be any strangers in the house they could be kept out of the way until he reached the library safely.”

“Oh,” laughed Jefferson, “he’s afraid some one will kidnap him?  Certainly he would be a rich prize.  I wouldn’t care for the job myself, though.  They’d be catching a tartar.”

His speech was interrupted by a timid knock at the door.

“May I come in to say good-bye?” asked a voice which they recognized as Kate’s.  She had successfully escaped from Mr. Bagley’s importunities and was now going home with the Senator.  She smiled amiably at Jefferson and they chatted pleasantly of his trip abroad.  He was sincerely sorry for this girl whom they were trying to foist on him.  Not that he thought she really cared for him, he was well aware that hers was a nature that made it impossible to feel very deeply on any subject, but the idea of this ready-made marriage was so foreign, so revolting to the American mind!  He thought it would be a kindness to warn her against Bagley.

“Don’t be foolish, Kate,” he said.  “I was not blind just now in the library.  That man is no good.”

As is usual when one’s motives are suspected, the girl resented his interference.  She knew he hated Mr. Bagley and she thought it mean of him to try and get even in this way.  She stiffened up and replied coldly: