“Well,” said the one, “that’s all very well, but Mr. Jadwin made my sister-in-law⁠—she lives in Dubuque, you know⁠—a rich woman. She bought some wheat, just for fun, you know, a long time ago, and held on till Mr. Jadwin put the price up to four times what she paid for it. Then she sold out. My, you ought to see the lovely house she’s building, and her son’s gone to Europe, to study art, if you please, and a year ago, my dear, they didn’t have a cent, not a cent, but her husband’s salary.”

“There’s the other side, too, though,” answered her companion, adding in a hoarse whisper: “If Mr. Jadwin fails today⁠—well, honestly, Julia, I don’t know what Philip will do.”

But, from another group at Page’s elbow, a man’s bass voice cut across the subdued chatter of the two women.