The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.

The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.

It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself--heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.

The children had come to have intimacies of their own.

Now and then, because of church connections, Mrs.Cowperwood ventured to have an afternoon tea or reception, at which even Cowperwood attempted the gallant in so far as to stand about in a genially foolish way and greet those whom his wife had invited.