"You'll earn it, just being here--more business," asserted his wife
firmly. "Anyhow, we've just got to be here, Jim! We owe it to
ourselves and our family. Look at Fred to-night!"

"Oh, yes, where is Fred?" queried Miss Flora.

"He's over to Gussie Pennock's, playing tennis," interposed Bessie,
with a pout. "The mean old thing wouldn't ask me!"

"But you ain't old enough, my dear," soothed her aunt. "Wait; your
turn will come by and by."

"Yes, that's exactly it," triumphed the mother. "Her turn WILL come--
if we live here. Do you suppose Fred would have got an invitation to
Gussie Pennock's if we'd still been living on the East Side? Not much
he would! Why, Mr. Pennock's worth fifty thousand, if he's worth a
dollar! They are some of our very first people."

"But, Hattie, money isn't everything, dear," remonstrated her husband
gently. "We had friends, and good friends, before."

"Yes; but you wait and see what kind of friends we have now!"

"But we can't keep up with such people, dear, on our income; and--"

"Ma, here's a man. I guess he wants--somebody." It was a husky whisper
from Benny.

James Blaisdell stopped abruptly. Bessie Blaisdell and the little