The Further Adventures of Quincy Adams Sawyer and Masons Corner Folks | Page 7

"My secretary? Harry Merry," said Quincy, "but the press boys all call
him Sober Harry."
"I think he's just splendid," said the impulsive Maude--"such beautiful
eyes! But that isn't what I came for. I went up to your house and just
brought Alice down to ours, and she told me all about the fine time you
had and your speech. Will it be printed?"
"Mr. Sylvester Chisholm, editor of the Fernborough Gazette was there
and a faithful transcript of my feeble remarks will, no doubt, appear in
his paper."

"Feeble!" said Maude contemptuously. "Have you been doing feeble
things since you came back?"
"No, Maude, I have done some very strenuous things, and I shall be
glad to get home to my family."
Maude repeated, seriously,
"To make a happy fireside clime For weans and wife Is the true pathos,
and sublime, Of human life.
"But you are not going home," she continued,--"you are invited to
dinner with your respected pa and ma and your two young--"
"And beautiful sisters," added Quincy with a laugh. "I'll come, but you
must play the latest popular songs for me, and Alice will sing 'Sweet,
Sweet Home,' and perhaps I can forget the cares of State-- until
to-morrow, anyway."
Maude flounced out of the door tossing a kiss from the tips of her
fingers, to the astonishment of Sober Harry who had just entered, and
who wished, from the bottom of his heart, that the flying salutation had
been for him.
CHAPTER III
A VACATION AT FERNBOROUGH
The Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer did not dine at home that evening.
Quincy's mother said that he had gone to Salem but would return later.
After dinner the little company of five repaired to the parlour. Maude
sang negro melodies despite the protests of her mother, and her sister
Florence's assertion that they were only sung at cheap variety shows.
"How do you know that?" cried Maude. "Did Reginald tell you?"
"Who is Reginald?" asked Quincy.

"Oh," said Maude, tossing her head, "he's Florence's latest. She met
him night before last--"
"Maude!" Her sister's voice was full of angry protest. "Don't say
another word."
"Such matters," said her mother mildly, "are not suitable subjects for
general conversation. There is a privacy about them which should be
respected."
"We'll leave Florence out of it, then," said Maude. "I met him at Mrs.
Dulton's reception. His name is Capt. Reginald Hornaby, and he's the
fourth son of Sir Wilfred Hornaby, of Hornaby Hook, Hornaby,
England--don't you know," and she winked spitefully at Florence.
"He told me all that himself," she continued, "so I know it must be so.
Won't it be nice to have a place in England where we can make
ourselves at home?"
"Aunt Ella will be glad to see you at any time," remarked Quincy.
"Why don't you go back with her? She'd be delighted."
"I would but for one thing," replied Maude. "I'm afraid I might fall in
love with an Englishman, and one title in the family is enough."
Alice interposed: "Aunt Ella has an English husband with a title."
"Yes," said Maude, "but he has his title, while Reggie is four blocks
away from the fire."
"You're as big a tease as ever," and Quincy drew his favourite sister
towards him. "Don't plague Flossie any more. Think of your possible
fate. You may marry a Jap."
"I know a lovely little Jap, now. His name is Hioshato Konuka. Oh,
Alice, won't you stay all night? When are you going on your vacation,
Quincy?"
"In about ten days, if the legislature is prorogued by that time."

"Where are you going?" asked his mother.
"Alice wishes to go to Fernborough for a week or two, and then we
shall go to Nantucket."
"Will the Earl and Sir Stuart pay us a visit?" was the next question.
"I invited them in your name, mother, but Linda and Aunt Ella were
anxious to get back to their yacht at Nantucket. They will sail from
there to New York and take the steamer home next week."
"Is the Countess of Sussex' sister-in-law, the Lady Elfrida, married
yet?" asked Florence.
"I understand she is engaged," Quincy replied.
Maude was incorrigible. "Reggie told me she was practising deep
breathing, owing to the length of the Episcopal marriage service."
"Maude," said her mother sharply, "if you were not of age I should
send you to bed."
"I'm going. Alice, while Quincy runs up to the house to say that you are
not coming home, you come to my room. I've some pretty things to
show you."
As Quincy walked up Walnut Street, he saw a bright light in Dr.
Culver's window. He rang the bell, and the doctor himself came to the
door.
"Is that you, Quincy? Come in."
"Paul, how are you?"