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 from embarrassment to engage him in conversation, with beautiful tact brought him to tell the company of his own country, remarking that "We insular people have but a vague idea at best of America."
With a smile, Sedgwick replied: "I do not know very much myself of my native country, for since I left school (here he glanced at Jack and his eyes twinkled) I merely wandered slowly through the southwestern States, almost to the Gulf in Texas, then bending north and west again, continued until I reached the eastern slope of the Sierras, and then made a dive underground and remained there until Jack determined to go home, and I came along to take care of him."
Here Miss Jenvie interposed and said: "What was the most precious thing you ever found in the mines, Mr. Sedgwick?"
"Considering who asked the question, it would be cruel not to tell you it was Jack," he replied.
All laughed, and Miss Jenvie said: "Is it true, did you and Jack first meet underground?"