* * * * * Jacob Chandler grew to look a little fresher, though not stouter, as the weeks went on: the drive, night and morning, seemed to do him good. Meeting Cole one day, he told him he felt stronger, and did not see why he should not live to be ninety. With all his heart, Cole answered, but most people found seventy long enough. All at once, without warning, a notice appeared in the local papers, stating that Jacob Chandler had taken his son Valentine into partnership. Mrs. Chandler read it as she sat at breakfast. "What does it mean, Tom?" she asked. "I don't know what it means, mother. We have heard nothing about it at the office." "Tom, you may depend your uncle Jacob _has done it_, and that he does not intend to take you in at all," spoke Mrs. Chandler, in her strong conviction. "I shall go to him." She finished her breakfast and went off there and then, catching Jacob just as he was turning out of the white gate at North Villa to mount his gig: for he still came over to Crabb to sleep. The newspaper was in her hand, and she pointed to the advertisement. "What does it mean, Jacob?" she asked, just as she had a few minutes before asked of Tom. "Mean!" said Jacob. "It can't have more than one meaning, can it? I've thought it best to let Val's name appear in the practice, and made over to him a small share of the profits. Very small, Betsy. He won't draw much more than he has been drawing as salary." "But what of Tom?" questioned poor Mrs. Chandler. "Of Tom? Well, what of him?" "When is he to be taken in?" "Oh, there's time enough for that. I can't make two moves at once; it could not be expected of me, Betsy. My son is my son, and he had to come in first." "But--Jacob--don't you think you ought to carry out the agreement made with Tom's father--that you are bound in honour?" debated Mrs. Chandler, in her meek and non-insisting way. "Time enough, Betsy. We shall see. And look there, my horse won't stand: he's always fresh in the morning." Shaking her hand hastily, he stepped up, took the reins from the man, and was off in a trice, bowling along at a quicker pace than usual. The poor woman, left standing there and feeling half-bewildered, saw Mrs. Jacob at one of the open windows, and crossed the lawn to speak. "I came up about this announcement," she said. "It is so strange a thing; we can't understand it at all. Jacob should take Tom into partnership. Especially now that he has taken Valentine." "Do you think so?" drawled Mrs. Jacob; who wore a pink top-knot and dirty morning wrapper, and minced her words more than usual, for she thought the more she minced them the finer she was. "Dear me! I'm sure I don't know anything about it. All well at home, I hope? I won't ask you in, for I'm going to be busy. My daughters are invited to a garden-party this afternoon, and I must give directions about the trimming of their dresses. Good-morning."