“Yes, and he's no end of a nice fellow. I am truly sorry that he is so reduced.”
“Shall you go and speak to him?”
“Yes; but I shall have to wait till he is at leisure.”
“Then I will go home by myself and leave you to confer together; and, by the way, Hugh, you know we are to have a little company to-night. Do you think your friend would play for us? He really plays uncommonly well.”
“I will invite him as a guest. I shouldn't want to treat him as a professional performer. We can afford to treat him as an equal, for he is of good family, and brought up as a gentleman.”
“I am quite willing to receive him as such.”
Hugh Longwood remained in the crowd, and when the playing was over pushed up to the wagon. Walter was assisting the professor in serving out bottles of the famous balm.
“You may give me a bottle, Walter,” said Longwood.
“By gracious, Hugh Longwood!” exclaimed Walter. “Who would have expected to see you here?”
“This is my home. But we certainly do meet under strange circumstances. What on earth led you into this business?”