“Very much,” said our hero.

“Then you can escort me, while papa and mamma walk together.”

Herbert felt that this arrangement would be very agreeable, so far as he was concerned.  It was, in fact, adopted, and the four paired off together, as Julia had suggested, Julia amusing Herbert by her lively remarks.

Entering the hall, they followed the usher to their seats, which were eligibly located only a few rows back from the stage.

Just behind them sat a party, among whom the new arrivals produced quite a sensation.  Not to keep the reader in suspense, that party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Stanton, Tom and Maria.  There was but slight acquaintance between the two families, as Mr. Godfrey’s stood higher, socially, than Mr. Stanton’s.  The gentlemen, however, had a bowing acquaintance, and the young people had met at dancing school.

“Why, there’s Mr. Godfrey and his family, Tom,” said Maria, turning towards her brother.  “Who’s that boy with them?  Julia hasn’t got any brother, has she?”

Tom had watched the entrance of the party with lively dissatisfaction.  That his beggarly cousin should appear in public on such intimate terms with Julia Godfrey, to whom he himself had paid attention, but without any special encouragement, struck him as particularly mortifying.

“Mr. Godfrey’s son!” he said, disdainfully.  “That boy is Herbert Mason.”

“Our cousin?” asked Maria, with interest.  “Ma, did you hear?” she whispered, eagerly.  “That boy in front of us is Cousin Herbert.”

“That boy with the Godfreys?” said Mrs. Stanton, in surprise.

“Yes, he’s talking with Julia now.”

“Are you sure?  Who told you?”

“Tom.”

“Is it true, Tom?”

“Yes,” said Tom, frowning.

“What could have induced the Godfreys to bring him along?” said Mrs. Stanton, who was no better pleased than Tom at the social success of the poor relation.

“He’s quite good-looking,” said Maria.

“Nonsense,” said her mother, sharply.  “He has a very countrified look.”

The news was communicated to Mr. Stanton, who looked with interest at his sister’s son, whom he had not seen since he was a very young child.  He fervently wished him back again in Ohio, where he might conveniently forget his existence.  Here in New York, especially since an unlucky chance, as he considered it, had brought him into the same counting-room as his son, it would be difficult to avoid taking some notice of him.  But, so far as pecuniary assistance was concerned, Mr. Stanton determined that he would give none, unless it was forced upon him.  Had he known our hero better, he would have been less alarmed.

With all his prejudices, Mr. Stanton could not help confessing that Herbert was a boy of whom any uncle might be proud.  Though plainly dressed, he did not seem out of place at a fashionable concert, surrounded by well-dressed people.