affectionate conversation with his nephew
the Senator made a polite suggestion to Mrs. Dillon.

"His friends an' my friends an' the friends of his father, an' the rank
an' file generally want to see an' to hear this young man, just as the
matter stands. Still more will they wish to give him the right hand of
fellowship when they learn that he is about to enter on a political
career. Now, why not save time and trouble by just giving a reception
some day about the end of the month, invite the whole ga--the whole
multitude, do the thing handsome, an' wind it up forever?"

The Senator had an evident dread of his sister-in-law, and spoke to her
with senatorial dignity. She meekly accepted his suggestion, and humbly
attended him to the door. His good sense had cleared the situation.
Preparation for a reception would set a current going in the quiet
house, and relieve the awkwardness of the new relationships; and it
would save time in the business of renewing old acquaintance. They took
up the work eagerly. The old house had to be refitted for the occasion,
his mother had to replenish a scanty wardrobe, and he had to dress
himself in the fashion proper to Arthur Dillon. Anne's taste was good,
inclined to rich but simple coloring, and he helped her in the selection
of materials, insisting on expenditures which awed and delighted her.
Judy Haskell came in for her share of raiment, and carried out some
dread designs on her own person with conviction. It was pure pleasure to
help these simple souls who loved him.

After a three weeks' stay in the house he went about the city at his
ease, and busied himself with the study and practise of his new
personality. In secret, even from Louis who spent much of his leisure
with him, he began to acquire the well-known accomplishments of the real
Arthur Dillon, who had sung and danced his way into the hearts of his
friends, who had been a wit for a boy, bubbling over with good spirits,
an athlete, a manager of amateur minstrels, a precocious gallant among
the girls, a fighter ever ready to defend the weak, a tireless leader in
any enterprise, and of a bright mind, but indifferent to study. The part
was difficult for him to play, since his nature was staidness itself
beside the spontaneity and variety of Arthur Dillon: but his spirits
rose in the effort, some feeling within responded to the dash and daring
of this lost boy, so much loved and so deeply mourned.

Louis helped him in preparing