“I know that few young men in the country could hope for such a start in life. It is not necessary that you should sell tea or calico either, except by the hands of those you may employ—though if you were to do it, it would be no discredit to you—and no more than your father did before you many a day.”
“Discredit! No, that is not the thing. But I can do something better for myself than that; I am going to try at least.”
“If self is your first consideration—But, Clifton, whether you think it or not, you could do much in the business, and you are needed in it. Jacob has more on his hands than he can do well, and even if he had not, it is your affair that the business should prosper as well as his. All we have is in it, and what do any of us know as to how our affairs stand? We are altogether in Jacob’s hands.”
“Come, now, Lizzie! Let Cousin Betsey and the rest of them run down Jacob. It is rather hard on him that his own sister should join them. I believe he is an honest man—as honesty among business men goes.”
“I am not speaking of honesty or dishonesty. But Jacob is not such a man of business as our father was.”
“No, but with his chances, he cannot but be carrying on a prosperous business. Oh, I’ll risk Jacob.”
“But, Clifton, all that we have is in the business, and we ought to know.”
“Why, Lizzie! who ever thought before that you were mercenary and suspicious, and I don’t know what else besides? What has Jacob been doing to ‘aggravate’ you lately, that you should be down on him?”
“Clifton, you must not dismiss the matter so lightly. I am thinking far more of you than of myself. You can never do better for yourself anywhere, and why should you change your plans now, after all these years?”
“Have I ever said that I was to stay in Gershom? I don’t say that I won’t come back for good, some time. Gershom does seem to be the place for a halt but as to going into the business right away, no, I thank you.”