Jennie saw it. She realized it, as a matter of fact, all during the evening that he was away. She felt blue and despondent herself.
When he came home she saw what it was—something had happened to him.
Her first impulse was to say,
"What is the matter, Lester?" but her next and sounder one was to ignore it until he was ready to speak, if ever.
She tried not to let him see that she saw, coming as near as she might affectionately without disturbing him.
"Vesta is so delighted with herself to-day," she volunteered by way of diversion.
"She got such nice marks in school."
"That's good," he replied solemnly.
"And she dances beautifully these days.
She showed me some of her new dances to-night.
You haven't any idea how sweet she looks."
"I'm glad of it," he grumbled.
"I always wanted her to be perfect in that.
It's time she was going into some good girls' school, I think."
"And papa gets in such a rage. I have to laugh.
She teases him about it—the little imp.
She offered to teach him to dance to-night.
If he didn't love her so he'd box her ears."
"I can see that," said Lester, smiling.
"Him dancing!
That's pretty good!"
"She's not the least bit disturbed by his storming, either."
"Good for her," said Lester.
He was very fond of Vesta, who was now quite a girl.
So Jennie tripped on until his mood was modified a little, and then some inkling of what had happened came out.
It was when they were retiring for the night.
"Robert's formulated a pretty big thing in a financial way since we've been away," he volunteered.
"What is it?" asked Jennie, all ears.
"Oh, he's gotten up a carriage trust.
It's something which will take in every manufactory of any importance in the country.
Bracebridge was telling me that Robert was made president, and that they have nearly eight millions in capital."
"You don't say!" replied Jennie.
"Well, then you won't want to do much with your new company, will you?"
"No; there's nothing in that, just now," he said.
"Later on I fancy it may be all right.
I'll wait and see how this thing comes out.
You never can tell what a trust like that will do."
Jennie was intensely sorry.
She had never heard Lester complain before. It was a new note.
She wished sincerely that she might do something to comfort him, but she knew that her efforts were useless.
"Oh, well," she said, "there are so many interesting things in this world.
If I were you I wouldn't be in a hurry to do anything, Lester.
You have so much time."
She didn't trust herself to say anything more, and he felt that it was useless to worry. Why should he?
After all, he had an ample income that was absolutely secure for two years yet.
He could have more if he wanted it.
Only his brother was moving so dazzlingly onward, while he was standing still—perhaps "drifting" would be the better word.
It did seem a pity; worst of all, he was beginning to feel a little uncertain of himself.
CHAPTER XLVIII
Lester had been doing some pretty hard thinking, but so far he had been unable to formulate any feasible plan for his re-entrance into active life.