"No; you're requested to ring at the rear door, all the
way down Beacon Street and up Commonwealth Avenue.
It's rather a blank reception for the returning prodigal."

"Ah, the prodigal must take his chance if he comes back
out of season. But I'm glad to have you back, Tom,
even as it is, and I hope you're not going to hurry away.
You must give your energies a rest."

"I'm sure you never had to reproach me with abnormal activity,"
suggested the son, taking his father's jokes in good part.

"No, I don't know that I have," admitted the elder.
"You've always shown a fair degree of moderation, after all.
What do you think of taking up next? I mean after you
have embraced your mother and sisters at Mount Desert.
Real estate? It seems to me that it is about time for you
to open out as a real-estate broker. Or did you ever think
of matrimony?"

"Well, not just in that way, sir," said the young man.
"I shouldn't quite like to regard it as a career,
you know."

"No, no. I understand that. And I quite agree with you.
But you know I've always contended that the affections
could be made to combine pleasure and profit. I wouldn't
have a man marry for money,--that would be rather bad,--but
I don't see why, when it comes to falling in love,