"I wish there was no such thing as banks, then."
"O mother! Why do you say that?"
"Then your father would maybe let business alone."
"But he is fond of business!"
"I don't think business is fond of him. He gets drawn into a speculation here and a speculation there, by some of these people he is always with; and some day he will do it once too often. He has enough for us all now; if he would only keep to his consul's business and let banks alone."
Mrs. Copley looked worried, and Dolly for a moment looked grave; but it was her mother's way to talk so.
"Why did he take the consulship?"
"Ask him! Because he would rather be a nobody in England than a somebody in America."
"Mother," said Dolly after a pause, "we have an invitation to dinner."
"Who?"