But the door of the sitting-room had opened and they caught a glimpse of the young man crossing the room. "There he is!" said his father with satisfaction. "Now, don't you go--I may need you." The boy came and stood in the doorway. "Hallo, Father! How do you do, Miss Canfield." He bowed to her. "Come in, Julian," said Medfield impatiently. "I missed you this morning. How did you find things at the office?" "All right, I guess." The young man crossed the room slowly. "I shouldn't know if they weren't right.... I know as much about the business as"--he looked about him and smiled--"as that brass knob over there!" He nodded to it. His father smiled contentedly. "You'll learn." Then he looked at him quickly. "You like it, don't you?" "Oh, I like it," said the young man comfortably. "I like it better than anything I've ever done--I feel as if I belonged there. I feel like my own grandfather, I guess." He laughed happily. "Of course they treat me a good deal like a kid," he added. "You're not so very old!" responded Herman Medfield with a twinkle. The young man's eye rested impersonally on the nurse who was moving about the room. "I'm growing up every day," he declared cheerfully. Miss Canfield's face was not responsive. She was studying Herman Medfield's chart. She took it up and left the room. Medfield's eyes followed her. "There's a young woman who knows her business," he said with approval. Julian sat down. "She seems very competent," he responded. His father shot a keen glance at his cheerful indifference. "She's more than competent," he said severely. "You want to be tied up like this for a while--to find out what people really are." "I don't think I should mind it--so much." The boy smiled at him frankly. "You look very comfortable, sir." "I am better," admitted Medfield. "What put you back yesterday?" Medfield looked at the ceiling. "Nobody seems to understand just what it was," he said quietly, "unless, maybe, Aunt Jane knows.... I think perhaps she understands the case--better than the doctor." "She's a nice old woman!" said Julian pleasantly. "Comfortable to have around." His father's glance was amused and a little critical. "How old do you suppose she may be, my son?" "Oh--I don't know--fifty! Any age!" said the boy. "You don't think of age--with a woman like that. You just love her!" His father smiled. "You have _some_ sense, I see...." "No, I don't want it!" He held up a warning hand. Miss Canfield had returned with his medicine. "I don't want it!" he said. Miss Canfield smiled. "The doctor said you were to have it, sir." "Set it down," said Medfield. "I'll take it by and by.... I'm not sick," he grumbled. "I don't need medicine!" He glanced at it with aversion. His son looked on with amused smile.