THE ensuing week was a busy one for Philip and Grace; for to announce
an unsuspected marriage and a coming departure at one and the same
time to two sets of acquaintances is no ordinary task, even to two
social nobodies in New York. Besides, Philip had lost no time in making
the legal acknowledgment that was requisite to the cashing of his
check, and in spending a portion of the proceeds. A short letter came
from Caleb Wright, enclosing one almost equally short from the late
Jethro Somerton, which assured Philip of Caleb's honesty and general
trustworthiness, and that the business would not suffer for a few days.
"Caleb is a far better and broader man than I," Philip's uncle had
written, "but he lacks force and push. I'm satisfied he can't help
it. He is stronger than he looks, and younger too, but he was fool
enough to take part in the Civil War, where he got a bullet that is
still roaming about in him, besides a thorough malarial soaking that
medicine can't cure. This often makes him dull; sometimes for weeks
together. But he knows human nature through and through, and if I had
a son to bring up, I'd rather give the job to Caleb than trust myself
with it. He has done me a lot of good in some ways, and I feel indebted
to him and want him to be well cared for as long as he lives. His
salary is small, and he won't ask to have it increased; but sometimes
he'll insist that you help him with some projects of his own, and I
advise you to do it, for he will make your life miserable until you do,
and the cost won't be great. I used to fight him and lose my temper
over some of his hobbies, but now I wish I hadn't; 'twould have been
cheaper."
"That," said Philip, after reading the passage to Grace, "is about as
tantalizing as if written for the purpose of teasing me, for there's
not a shadow of hint as to the nature of Caleb's projects and hobbies.
He may be experimenting in perpetual motion or at extracting sunshine
from cucumbers. Still, as the man is honest and his freaks are not
expensive, I don't see that I can suffer greatly. By the way, when
I informed our firm that they would have to endure the withdrawal
of my valuable services, and told them the reason, they were not a
bit surprised; they said my uncle had written them several times,
asking about my progress and character, and they had been unable to
say anything to my discredit. They had been curious enough to make
inquiries, from the commercial agencies, about the writer of the
letters, and they took pleasure in informing me that Uncle Jethro's
store, houses, farms, were estimated by good judges, at--guess how
much."