give him of improving his acquaintance with the young lady from New
York. He returned home very well pleased with his trip to Somerset,
though he had failed in the object of his expedition.






CHAPTER V

MRS. THORNTON'S PEARLS





The next Sunday Mrs. Clifton and her daughter appeared at church,
and Grant had the pleasure of greeting them. He was invited with his
sister to take supper with them on the next Monday afternoon, and
accepted the invitation. About sunset he met his new friends
walking, with the addition of the husband and father, who, coming
Saturday evening from New York, had felt too fatigued to attend
church. Mr. Clifton, to whom he was introduced, was a portly man in
middle life, who received Grant quite graciously, and made for
himself acknowledgment of the service which our hero had rendered
his daughter.

"If I ever have the opportunity of doing you a favor, Master
Thornton, you may call upon me with confidence," he said.