Charlie and I and the Gretrys are going to get up an amateur play--a
charity affair--and raise as much money as we can. J. thinks it's a
good idea, and--here's the point--we were talking about it coming
home in the carriage, and J. said he wondered if that Miss Dearborn
wouldn't take part. And we are all wild to have you. You know you do
that sort of thing so well. Now don't say yes or no to-night. You
sleep over it. J. is crazy to have you in it."

"I'd love to do it," answered Laura. "But I would have to see--it
takes so long to get settled, and there's so much to do about a big
house like ours, I might not have time. But I will let you know."

Mrs. Cressler told her in detail about the proposed play. Landry
Court was to take part, and she enlisted Laura's influence to get
Sheldon Corthell to undertake a role. Page, it appeared, had already
promised to help. Laura remembered now that she had heard her speak
of it. However, the plan was so immature as yet, that it hardly
admitted of very much discussion, and inevitably the conversation
came back to its starting-point.

"You know," Laura had remarked in answer to one of Mrs. Cressler's
observations upon the capabilities and business ability of "J.,"
"you know I never heard of him before you spoke of our theatre
party. I don't know anything about him."

But Mrs. Cressler promptly supplied the information. Curtis Jadwin
was a man about thirty-five, who had begun life without a sou in his
pockets. He was a native of Michigan. His people were farmers,
nothing more nor less than hardy, honest fellows, who ploughed and
sowed for a living. Curtis had only a rudimentary schooling, because