He laughed aloud. Mary did not laugh.

"They--you said they were in trouble," she said slowly. "What sort of
trouble?"

"Eh? Oh, the usual kind. The kind of goblin, young lady, which is likely
to get us business men if we don't watch out--financial trouble. The
firm of Hamilton and Company has not kept abreast of the times, that's
all. For years they did a good business and then some new competitors
with up-to-date ideas came to town and--puff!--good-by to the old
fogies. They are in a bad way, I'm afraid, and will have to go under,
unless--eh? But there! you aren't particularly interested, I dare say.
It was your mention of Cape Cod which set me going."

"Oh, but I am interested; I am, really. They must go under, you say?
Fail, do you mean?"

"Yes, that is what I mean. I am very sorry. Our firm would go on
selling them goods almost indefinitely for, as I have said, they are old
customers and in a way old friends. But they are absolutely honest and
they will not buy what they cannot pay for. We have some pitiful letters
from them--not whining, you know, but straightforward and frank. They
don't ask favors, but tell us just where they stand and leave it to us
to refuse credit if we see fit. It is just one of the little tragedies
of life, Miss Lathrop, but I'm mighty sorry for those two old friends of
my father's and mine. And the worst of it is that, from inquiries I
have made, it would seem that they have been sacrificing themselves by
spending their money lavishly and uselessly on someone else. They have a
girl in the family, a sort of adopted niece, whatever that is, and, not
content with bringing her up like a sensible, respectable country girl,