ve all, that the vulgar desire for display was more
prominent among Mr. Belcher's motives for removal than that person
suspected.

"I have a few affairs to attend to," said Mr. Talbot, rising, "but after
twelve o'clock I will be at your service while you remain in the city.
We shall have no difficulty in finding a house to suit you, I am sure,
and you can get everything done in the matter of furniture at the
shortest notice. I will hunt houses with you for a week, if you wish."

"Well, by-by, Toll," said Mr. Belcher, giving him his left hand again.
"I'll be 'round at twelve."

Mr. Talbot went out, but instead of going to his office, went straight
home, and surprised Mrs. Talbot by his sudden reappearance.

"What on earth!"--said she, looking up from a bit of embroidery on
which she was dawdling away her morning.

"Kate, who do you suppose is coming to New York to live?"

"The Great Mogul."

"Yes, the Great Mogul--otherwise, Colonel Robert Belcher."

"Heaven help us!" exclaimed the lady.

"Well, and what's to be done?"

"Oh, my! my! my! my!" exclaimed Mrs. Talbot, her possessive pronoun
stumbling and fainting away without reaching its object. "_Must_ we have
that bear in the house? Does it pay?"

"Yes, Kate, it pays," said Mr. Talbot.

"Well, I suppose that settles it."

The factor and his wife were very quick to comprehend the truth that a
principal out of town, and away from his wife and family, was a very
different person to deal with from one in the town and in the occupation
of a grand establishment, with his dependents. They saw that they must
make themselves essential to him in the establishment of his social
position, and that they must introduce him and his wife to their
friends. Moreover, they had heard good reports of Mrs. Belcher, and had
the impression that she would be either an inoffensive or a valuable
acquisition to their circle of friends.

There was nothing to do, therefore, but to make a dinner-party in Mr.
Belcher's honor. The guests were carefully selected, and Mrs. Talbot
laid aside her embroidery and wrote her invitations, while Mr. Talbot
made his next errand at the office of the leading real estate broker,
with whom he concluded a private arrangement to share in the commission
of any sale that might be made to the customer whom he proposed to bring
to him in the course of the day. Half an-hour before twelve, he was in
his own office, and in the thirty minutes that lay between hi