"There are two opinions about that. At any rate, I shall carry out the wishes of my wife. She wished Dick to be brought up in a certain way, and I shall do my best to fulfil her plans. She would have done it herself had she lived. So Dick shall make the experiment. I know it will do him good. He needs change after a hard winter in school." "But, Mortimer, think of the cost! It's going to be awful!" and there was agony in the crabbed old man's voice. "Oh, it won't cost such a pile, Ezra. Besides, Dick can afford it, and if he can't I can. The money couldn't be put to better use." "Yes it could, Mortimer. There's where you're mistaken. It could be invested in tenement houses, and made to pay big interest. You could----" "I'll never build tenements with any of my money, nor with Dick's, either!" interrupted Mr. Hamilton. "I don't want to make a profit out of the poor." "Then invest it in stocks or bonds," went on Mr. Larabee, eagerly. "They pay well." "I have enough investments as it is, and so has Dick," answered the millionaire. "No, Ezra, I have made up my mind. Dick shall have a chance to see the world--or, at least, part of it. As soon as he comes home I'll tell him of his mother's plan----" Dick thought it time to make his presence known. He rattled the knob of the library door, and heard a start of surprise from within. Then he entered. "Hello, dad!" he exclaimed, fairly rushing up to Mr. Hamilton, and clasping his two hands in an eager grip. "How are you, Uncle Ezra?" "Why, Dick, my boy!" cried the rich man, heartily, "I didn't expect you so soon. Oh, but I _am_ glad to see you! It's like old times to have you back! Where's Grit?" And he clapped his son on the back more like some fellow-cadet than a father. "I--I left Grit outside, dad." "Have you got that miserable dog yet?" demanded Uncle Ezra, giving Dick one finger to shake, and that rather grudgingly. "Grit is outside, Uncle. I knew you didn't like him, and----" "Like him? I should say not! Why that critter eats as much as a horse, and doesn't do a stroke of work to pay for his keep." "Well, Dick, how are you?" asked his father, holding him off at arm's length, to get a better view. "My, but you've grown, though you're a little pale." "Yes, there wasn't much chance to tan up in the winter. But I'm glad to get home. How's everybody? You're looking well yourself, dad. Oh, Uncle Ezra," spoke Dick quickly, as he thought of something, "how's Aunt Samanthy?" "Oh, she ain't as well as she might be. She has something the matter with her stomach, and the medicine she has to take is very expensive--very! Besides, she's had the doctor real frequent of late, and that runs up an expense; not that I mind it so much, but it seems doctors charge more than they used to. No, your Aunt Samanthy ain't as well as she might be." "I'm sorry to hear that," murmured Dick, as sympathetically as he could. "Everything go off well at school?" asked Mr. Hamilton.