“Is the family a good one?”
“They stand well; they are received in the best society in New York, and I have been told that Mr. Huntress is a wealthy man.”
“Well, he has a charming daughter, anyway. I’d like you to win a pretty girl like that for a wife, Everet,” said Mrs. Mapleson, wistfully.
“I assure you it would give me a great deal of pleasure to gratify you, ma chere,” he responded, his lips curling with a bitter smile, as he thought of how he had tried and failed; then he abruptly changed the subject. “But time is flying, and if we are to be in New York to-night, we must be thinking about trains, while I have some packing to attend to yet.”
Mrs. Mapleson signified her readiness to go, and they passed out of the museum and repaired to Everet’s rooms.
That evening they were en route to the great metropolis, whence they were to go to Newport.
Mrs. Mapleson had arranged to spend the greater portion of the season at this fashionable resort, where she expected to meet some friends, who were also coming from the South.
But Everet had other plans for himself.
He attended his mother to Newport, saw her comfortably and pleasantly settled there, and then informed her that he was going home to Virginia.
She was amazed at this information, and protested indignantly against his departure.