“I know Dr. Fisher,” said Ben, “that’s enough.”

“Well, when you want comfort, come to me,” said Pickering, “or your uncle!”

“Don’t you fill Ben’s ears with your foolishness,” said the Senior Partner, coming out of the counting-room.  “Take yourself off, Pickering; you’re hindering Ben.”

Pickering laughed.  “I’m caught in the very act.  Now, Ben, remember I’m your friend when you get into trouble with your dear pa.  Good-by, Uncle,” with a bright nod, and a lazy shake of his long figure.  “Trade always demoralizes me.  I’ll get back to my books,” and he vanished as quickly as he came.

“Back to your books,” said his uncle grimly, “hum, I wish you would.  See here, Ben,” he put a controlling hand on the boy’s shoulder, “one word with you,” marching him into the private office of the firm.  “Don’t you follow Pickering too closely, my boy,” he said abruptly; “he’s a good lad in the main, but if he is my nephew, I must give you warning.  He’s losing ground.”

Ben lifted his head in sudden alarm.  “Oh!  I hope not, sir,” he said.

“It’s a fact.  Master Nelson says he could be first scholar in the grammar, but for the last six months he’s failed steadily.  There’s no particular reason, only ambition’s gone.  And when you say that, you mean there’s a general collapse of all my hopes concerning him.”

“Oh! no, sir,” Ben kept on protesting, his ruddy cheek losing its color.  “He’ll take hold by and by and give a pull at his books again.”

“It isn’t a pull now and then that gets a man up hill,” observed Mr. Cabot, leaning back in his revolving chair to look into the blue eyes, “that you know as well as I. Now, Ben, I’m not going to see you throw away your prospects, too.  Don’t let him influence you in the wrong way.  He’s bright and attractive, but don’t pay attention to his ridicule of good things.”

“I’ve a mother,” said Ben proudly, “and I don’t believe any boy could say much to me, that I’d think of twice, if she didn’t like it.”

“You always tell her everything, do you, Ben?” asked Mr. Cabot with a curious glance.

“I should think so, sir,” said Ben, with a short laugh.

“You’ll do, then,” said Mr. Cabot, bringing his palm down on a pile of unread letters awaiting him.  “Go ahead.  I don’t promise anything, but I will say this.  If you work on as you have done these two years since you came in here as errand boy, Ben, I’ll make you a power in the house.  Understand I don’t expect you to do brilliant things; that isn’t in your line.  You will be a success only as a steady, faithful worker.  But keep at it, and hang on to Cabot & Van Meter, and we’ll hang on to you.”

XIV

MAMSIE’S WEDDING

“Polly,” said Dr. Fisher, coming suddenly out of a corner of the library as she ran around the portiere folds, “you are sure you are willing—­are willing it should go on?”