gave her three addresses, because I did not wish to recommend any
particular one. I wished her to make her own choice."

"I was not so conservative," remarked his father. "I advised her to go
to Foss & Follansbee and even suggested that Quinnebaug Copper Company
was one of the most promising investments before the public to-day."

"Did she confide in you any farther," said Quincy.

"Oh, yes," replied his father; "I gleaned she was worth $100,000 and
that her parents, who were very old people, had nearly as much more. I
remember her brother, J. Jones Putnam. He was a 'plunger,' and a
successful one. He died suddenly of lung fever, I believe."

Quincy smiled.

"She seemed to be well educated," his father continued, "and told me
that you and she sang together at a concert."

"Did she tell you what her father's religion was?" inquired Quincy.

"You don't seem to admire this young lady, Quincy. I thought she would
be likely to be a great friend of yours. You might do worse than--"

"I know," said Quincy, "she is pretty, well educated, musical, very
tasteful in dress, and has money, but she can't have me. But how did it
end?" asked he; "how did you get rid of her?"

"Well," replied his father, "as I said before, I thought she must be a
great friend of yours, and perhaps more, so I went down to Foss &
Follansbee's with her; then we went to Parker's to lunch, then I sent
her to the station in a coupe."

"I am greatly obliged to you, father," said Quincy, "for the kind
attentions you paid her. I shall get the full credit of them down in
Eastborough; your name will not be mentioned; only," said Quincy with a
laugh, "if she is coming to the city very often I think perhaps I had
better come back to Boston and look after mother's interests."

The Hon. Nathaniel was nettled by this and said sternly, "I do not like
that sort of pleasantry, Quincy."

"Neither do I," said Quincy coolly, "and I hope there will be no further
occasion for it."

"How long do you intend to remain in Eastborough?" asked his father.

"I don't know," replied Quincy. "I can't come home while Uncle Jim is
sick, of course. I will ask him if he would like to see you, and if he
says yes, I will telegraph you. Well, good-by. I was up to the house and
saw mother and the girls. I am going up to the club to see if I can meet
some of the boys and have some dinner, and I shall go down on the 6.05
express."

Quincy lighted a cigar, shook hands rather stif