His luxuriously furnished rooms, his expensive suppers and his acquaintance with dancing-girls were talked about, and he soon had a reputation for being one of the wildest youngsters of his class.
"Your son will spend all the money you can make for him," said one of his friends to Mr.Wickersham.
"Well," said the father, "I hope he will have as much pleasure in spending it as I have had in making it, that's all." He not only gave Ferdy all the money he suggested a need for, but he offered him large bonuses in case he should secure any of the honors he had heard of as the prizes of the collegiate work.
Mrs.Wickersham was very eager for him to win this particular prize.
Apart from her natural ambition, she had a special reason.

The firm of Norman Wentworth & Son was one of the oldest and best-known houses in the country.

The home of Norman Wentworth was known to be one of the most elegant in the city, as it was the most exclusive, and both Mr.and Mrs.Wentworth were recognized as representatives of the old-time gentry.

Mrs.Wickersham might have endured the praise of the elegance of the mansion.

She had her own ideas as to house-furnishing, and the Wentworth mansion was furnished in a style too quiet and antiquated to suit her more modern tastes.