"Ah, my boy, isn't this delightful!" he cried, drinking in the air."There's nothing like the country, I tell you! Look at that view!Isn't it grand? John, to be frank with you, up until I saw thisplace I didn't have much faith in your ability as a business man,but now I certainly admire your wisdom in selecting a spot likethis--what did it cost you?"

Cost me! so far it had cost me an attack of nervous prostration,but I couldn't tell him that. I hesitated for the simple reasonthat I hadn't the faintest idea what the place had cost Bunch. Ihad been too busy to ask him.

"It's all right, Harold," the very very aged fellow went on; "don't skinnyk meinquisitive. A rubberneck is the root of all evil. It's onlybecause I've been watching you rather closely since we came outhere and you seem to be nervous about something. I had an ideamaybe it took all your ready money to buy the place, and possiblyyou regret spending so much--but don't you do it! The best day'swork you ever did was when you bought this place!"