Why, he was quite the same about business.

He began to speculate, and of course, being brother Cyrus's nephew, his advantage was considerable.

But he suddenly declared he wouldn't be a broker any more--and you'd never guess his absurd reason: simply because some stock he held or didn't hold went up or down or something on a rumour in the street that Mr.Russell Sage was extremely ill! He said that this brought him to his senses.

He says to me, 'Mater, I've not met Mr.Sage, you know, but from what I hear of him it would be irrational to place myself in a position where I should have to experience emotion of any sort at news of the old gentleman's taking-off.

An event so agreeable to the natural order of God's providence, so plausible, so seemly, should not be endowed with any arbitrary and artificial significance, especially of a monetary character--one must be able to view it absolutely without emotion of any sort, either of regret or rejoicing--one must remain conscientiously indifferent as to when this excellent old gentleman passes on to the Golden Shore'-- but you know the breezy way in which Harold will sometimes talk.