“His keen laughing brown eyes, and crisp well-brushed hair, and big somewhat English way of chaffing (he had gone to Oxford, where he had rowed on a winning crew) carried a sense of buoyant prosperity that went with his wiry figure and good smart London clothes. His face was almost as tawny as an Indian’s with the outdoor life that he took care to lead. I was always flattered when he could spare any time to clap me on the shoulder and crack a joke.” “Amalgamated Electric had risen five more points before the board closed that afternoon. This was the first news that I told Ethel.” “‘Richard,’ said she, ‘I wish you would sell that stock to-morrow.’” “But this I saw no reason for; and on Tuesday it had gained seven points further. Ethel still more strongly urged me to sell it. I must freely admit that.” And the narrator paused reflectively. “Thank you, Richard,” said Ethel from the sofa. “And I admit that I could give you no reason for my request, except that it all seemed so sudden. And--yes--there was one other thing. But that was even more silly.” “I believe I know what you mean,” replied Richard, “and I shall come to it presently. If any one was silly, it was not you.” “I did not sell Amalgamated Electric on Wednesday, and on Thursday a doubt about the increased dividend began to be circulated. The stock, nevertheless, after a forenoon of weakness, rallied. Moreover a check for my first dividend came from the Pollyopolis Heat, Light, Power, Paving, Pressing, and Packing Company.” “‘What a number of things it does!’ exclaimed Ethel, when I showed her the company’s check.” “‘Yes,’ I replied, and quoted Browning to her: ‘’Twenty-nine Distinct damnations. One sure if the other fails.’ Beverly’s mother has a lot of it.’” “But Ethel did not smile. ‘Richard,’ she said, ‘I do wish you had more investments with ordinary simple names, like New York and New Haven, or Chicago and Northwestern.’ And when I told her that I thought this was really unreasonable, she was firm. ‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘I don’t like the names--not most of them, at least. Dutchess and Columbia Traction sounds pretty well; and besides that, of course one knows how successful these electric railways are. But take the Standard Egg Trust, and the Patent Pasteurised Infant Rubber Feeder Company.’” “‘Why, Ethel!’ I exclaimed, ‘those are both based upon great inventions, Mr. Beverly--’” “But she interrupted me earnestly ‘I know about those inventions, Richard, for I have procured the prospectuses. And I wish that I could have told you my own feeling about them before you bought any of the stock.’” “‘I do not think you can fully have taken it in, Ethel.’” “‘I trust that it may not have fully taken you in,’ she replied. ‘Have you noticed what those stocks are selling for at present?’”