As soon as Morton saw him, he shouted a joyful greeting, to which Mr. Edward Meredith, rising and going to meet his friend, replied with no less emphasis.
"I thought," said Morton, "that you meant to do the dutiful this time, and stay with your father and family at the sea shore."
"Couldn't stand the sea shore," said Meredith, seating himself again; "so I came up to the mountains to see what you were doing."
"You couldn't have done better; but come this way, out of earshot."
"Colonel," said Meredith, in a tone of melancholy remonstrance, "this seat is a good seat, an easy seat, a pleasant seat. Why do you want to root me up?"
"Show the way, then, Jack-a-lantern. But where do you want to lead me? I won't sit on the rail fence, and I won't sit on the grass."
Meredith carefully removed a few twigs and shavings which lay upon the bench, seated himself, rested his arm along the back, and began puffing at his pipe again. But scarcely had he thus composed himself when the tea bell rang from the house.
"Do you hear that, now? Another move to make! Didn't I tell you so?"
"Please to explain, colonel, what you expect to gain by always bobbing about as you do, like a drop of quicksilver."
"To hear you, one would take you for the laziest fellow in the universe."
"There's reason in all things. I keep my vital energies against the time of need, instead of wasting them in unnecessary gyrations. Ladies at the table! New Yorkers in full feather, or I'll be shot! Now, what the deuse have lace and ribbons to do in a place like this?"
During the meal, the presence of the strangers was a check upon their conversation.
"Crawford," said Meredith, when it was over, "have you had that sofa taken into my room?"
"All right. Now, then, colonel, _allons_."
The name of _colonel_ was Morton's college sobriquet. Meredith led the way into a room which adjoined his bed chamber, and which, under his direction, had assumed an air of great comfort. Morton took possession of the sofa; his friend of the arm chair.
"What's the word with you?" began the latter; "are you bound for the Adirondacks, the Margalloway, or the Penobscot?"
"To the Margalloway, I think. You mean to go with me, I hope."
"To the Margalloway, or the antipodes, or any place this side of the North Pole."