Transplanted by Gertrude Atherton — Read

As Lee sat alone, pondering deeply over her father-in-law's advice, her American mail was brought up. She opened a letter from Mrs. Montgomery. After several pages of lamentation in many keys for her lost child, and several more of advice, the good lady got down to news.

"And I've lost another, for a whole year at the very least -- I'll join him somewhere in Europe when Tiny goes back, and then, of course, he'll come with us to England, and has almost persuaded me to take up my real abode in Europe and pay visits to California. Of course I mean Randolph, darling. He decided, after all, not to sell his share in the mine, but formed a syndicate -- himself, Mr. Geary, Mr. Trennahan, Mr. Brannan, and others of unimpeachable integrity -- and now they own the mine, and Randolph says he'll be worth five millions at least. As soon as it was all settled he told me that as there was nothing in particular for him to do he should go abroad. I couldn't believe my ears when he said: ‘I never want to hear the word "business" again. I am sick of being a hustling American. I want the repose of the old world, and all it must be able to give and do for a man. I want to read and study, too. I feel half-educated, half-baked. If I could only have got a million out of the mine I should have been satisfied, and turned my back on money-grabbing just the same, but of course my instincts were too strong to take one million where there was chance of five. ' So he's gone! I've cried until I can't see, for, although Arthur's the best of men, and I love him like my own son, he's not Randolph, and even Tiny couldn't call him entertaining. When I tell him my troubles, he merely says, ‘Ah! ' at regular intervals.