The "peaceful picketing" bill was signed.

The door opened, and a pretty face looked in.

"Come in, Maude--I've just finished." As the secretary withdrew, keeping his eyes fixed on the governor's youngest sister, she advanced slowly into the room. The door closed automatically and Maude tip-toed to her brother's side, returning his welcoming kiss.

"What's his name?" she asked, pointing towards the self-closing door.

"My secretary? Harry Merry," said Quincy, "but the press boys all call him Sober Harry."

"I think he's just splendid," said the impulsive Maude--"such beautiful eyes! But that isn't what I came for. I went up to your house and just brought Alice down to ours, and she told me all about the fine time you had and your speech. Will it be printed?"

"Mr. Sylvester Chisholm, editor of the Fernborough Gazette was there and a faithful transcript of my feeble remarks will, no doubt, appear in his paper."

"Feeble!" said Maude contemptuously. "Have you been doing feeble things since you came back?"

"No, Maude, I have done some very strenuous things, and I shall be glad to get home to my family."

Maude repeated, seriously,

"To make a happy fireside clime For weans and wife Is the true pathos, and sublime, Of human life.

"But you are not going home," she continued,--"you are invited to dinner with your respected pa and ma and your two young--"

"And beautiful sisters," added Quincy with a laugh. "I'll come, but you must play the latest popular songs for me, and Alice will sing 'Sweet, Sweet Home,' and perhaps I can forget the cares of State--until to-morrow, anyway."

Maude flounced out of the door tossing a kiss from the tips of her fingers, to the astonishment of Sober Harry who had just entered, and who wished, from the bottom of his heart, that the flying salutation had been for him.

CHAPTER III

A VACATION AT FERNBOROUGH

The Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer did not dine at home that evening.

Quincy's mother said that he had gone to Salem but would return later.

After dinner the little company of five repaired to the parlour. Maude sang negro melodies despite the protests of her mother, and her sister Florence's a.s.sertion that they were only sung at cheap variety shows.

"How do you know that?" cried Maude. "Did Reginald tell you?"

"Who is Reginald?" asked Quincy.

"Oh," said Maude, tossing her head, "he's Florence's latest. She met him night before last--"

"Maude!" Her sister's voice was full of angry protest. "Don't say another word."

"Such matters," said her mother mildly, "are not suitable subjects for general conversation. There is a privacy about them which should be respected."

"We'll leave Florence out of it, then," said Maude. "I met him at Mrs.

Dulton's reception. His name is Capt. Reginald Hornaby, and he's the fourth son of Sir Wilfred Hornaby, of Hornaby Hook, Hornaby, England--don't you know," and she winked spitefully at Florence.

"He told me all that himself," she continued, "so I know it must be so.

Won't it be nice to have a place in England where we can make ourselves at home?"

"Aunt Ella will be glad to see you at any time," remarked Quincy. "Why don't you go back with her? She'd be delighted."

"I would but for one thing," replied Maude. "I'm afraid I might fall in love with an Englishman, and one t.i.tle in the family is enough."

Alice interposed: "Aunt Ella has an English husband with a t.i.tle."

"Yes," said Maude, "but he _has_ his t.i.tle, while Reggie is four blocks away from the fire."

"You're as big a tease as ever," and Quincy drew his favourite sister towards him. "Don't plague Flossie any more. Think of your possible fate. You may marry a j.a.p."

"I know a lovely little j.a.p, now. His name is Hioshato Konuka. Oh, Alice, won't you stay all night? When are you going on your vacation, Quincy?"

"In about ten days, if the legislature is prorogued by that time."

"Where are you going?" asked his mother.

"Alice wishes to go to Fernborough for a week or two, and then we shall go to Nantucket."

"Will the Earl and Sir Stuart pay us a visit?" was the next question.

"I invited them in your name, mother, but Linda and Aunt Ella were anxious to get back to their yacht at Nantucket. They will sail from there to New York and take the steamer home next week."

"Is the Countess of Suss.e.x' sister-in-law, the Lady Elfrida, married yet?" asked Florence.

"I understand she is engaged," Quincy replied.

Maude was incorrigible. "Reggie told me she was practising deep breathing, owing to the length of the Episcopal marriage service."

"Maude," said her mother sharply, "if you were not of age I should send you to bed."

"I'm going. Alice, while Quincy runs up to the house to say that you are not coming home, you come to my room. I've some pretty things to show you."

As Quincy walked up Walnut Street, he saw a bright light in Dr. Culver's window. He rang the bell, and the doctor himself came to the door.

"Is that you, Quincy? Come in."

"Paul, how are you?"

"Fine as silk. Business is good, but I'm doing my best to keep the undertakers out of a job. Have you read the evening papers?"

"I seldom do. I prefer to wait until morning."

"The papers are rapping you hard for signing that picketing bill, but the labour men are delighted. You'll run ahead of your ticket sure next fall."