"Oh yes, indeed!" said his wife. "We shall be very glad
to see Mr. Corey, any time."

"Thank you; I shall be glad to come."

He and the Colonel went before, and helped the ladies
down the difficult descent. Irene seemed less sure-
footed than the others; she clung to the young man's
hand an imperceptible moment longer than need be,
or else he detained her. He found opportunity of saying,
"It's so pleasant seeing you again," adding, "all of you."

"Thank you," said the girl. "They must all be glad
to have you at home again."

Corey laughed.

"Well, I suppose they would be, if they were at home
to have me. But the fact is, there's nobody in the house
but my father and myself, and I'm only on my way to Bar Harbour."

"Oh! Are they there?"

"Yes; it seems to be the only place where my mother
can get just the combination of sea and mountain air
that she wants."

"We go to Nantasket--it's convenient for papa; and I
don't believe we shall go anywhere else this summer,