They could scarcely believe their eyes; but the committee took him, and Oscar's position was established at once.
On the second day after his arrival, he was invited to dine at the house of a prominent citizen, and there he met a brilliant company, including the gentleman who had given the money to found the museum.
The men treated him with a respect that astonished him, and the ladies crowded around him and asked questions, until Oscar wished most heartily that he could crawl into a hollow log somewhere and get out of sight.
Through all this trying ordeal, the young taxidermist conducted himself with the utmost propriety; but when the week was ended and he found himself on board the train bound for Eaton, he drew a long breath of relief, and said to himself:
"Thank goodness, it is all over!"
Sam Hynes was at the depot when Oscar reached the village on Wednesday night, and eager as he was to hear what his friend had to tell him, he was still more eager to communicate to him a piece of news that was just then the talk of the town.
Oscar lingered for a few minutes on the platform to exchange greetings with two or three friends who chanced to be there, but he drew away from them as soon as he could, and started for home, accompanied by Sam. He was very anxious to see his mother.
"Well," said Oscar, as they locked arms and walked briskly toward the village, "I don't see that Eaton has changed any during my absence."
"Oh, you don't!" exclaimed Sam. "One would think you had been somewhere, to hear you talk."
"I have been somewhere, and in less than a week I am going somewhere else. Have you any news for me?"