whether or not he was well-to-do. I told him that my father
manufactured overalls, and that, even in these hard times, the
demand for overalls was pretty steady.

He seemed relieved. He approves of the utilitarian aspect of
overalls. He had been afraid that I had come from the family of
a minister or professor or writer, a lot of high thinking and no
common sense. Cyrus believes in common sense.

And what had been my training for this position?

That, as you know, is a slightly embarrassing question. But
I produced my college education and a few lectures at the School
of Philanthropy, also a short residence in the college settlement
(I didn't tell him that all I had done there was to paint the
back hall and stairs). Then I submitted some social work among
my father's employees and a few friendly visits to the Home for
Female Inebriates.

To all of which he grunted.

I added that I had lately made a study of the care of
dependent children, and casually mentioned my seventeen
institutions.

He grunted again, and said he didn't take much stock in this
new-fangled scientific charity.

At this point Jane entered with a box of roses from the
florist's. That blessed Gordon Hallock sends me roses twice a