My house is but a step from Hamlin's; make it your home half the time.
Really it should be. In England friends only stop at hotels when
traveling."

"Come, Jim," said Jack; "you see it must be, and that is the right thing.
Ours are old-fashioned people, just up from Devonshire. What would you
have thought had I insisted upon stopping at that hotel at the station
near your father's house?"

Sedgwick yielded at last. Their trunks were packed in a few minutes, the
bill settled, and they drove away.

Reaching the Hamlin home they were shown at once to their apartments, and
were informed that so soon as they were ready dinner would be served.

They were not long in dressing, and together they descended to the
parlor. Besides the family, the Jenvie family were also present. Grace
met them at the door, shook hands with Sedgwick, and welcomed him with a
word and a smile which set all his pulses bounding, and, taking his arm,
presented him to the strangers; then shouted gaily: "Follow us! dinner
is waiting."

Sedgwick was given the seat at the right of his host; Grace took the seat
at his right, with Jack and Rose opposite.

The ladies were radiant in evening costume, and Sedgwick with a mighty
effort threw off the depression which had burdened the day and appeared
at his very best.

Mrs. Hamlin, judging shrewdly that perhaps it would relieve the stranger