"
"It was terrible, coming up Beacon Street with an old offender like
Meredith, at what he considered the dead hour of the night," said
Mr. Seyton. "I don't know what I should have done if any one had
been awake to see us."
"You shall have breakfast instantly," said Bellingham, touching an
annunciator, and awakening a distant electric titter somewhere.
Mr. Seyton came toward Lemuel, who took the young Ritualist for a
Catholic priest, but was not proof against the sweet friendliness
which charmed every one with him, and was soon talking at more ease
than he had felt from all Bellingham's cordial intention. He was put
at his host's right hand when they sat down, and Mr. Seyton was
given the foot, so that they continued their talk.
"Mr. Bellingham tells me you know my friend Sewell," said the
clergyman.
Lemuel's face kindled. "Oh yes! Do you know him too?"
"Yes, I've known him a long time. He's a capital fellow, Sewell is."
"I think he's a great preacher," ventured Lemuel.
"Ah--well--yes? Is he? I've never heard him lecture," said Mr.
Seyton, looking down at his bread.
"I swear, Seyton," said Meredith across the table, "when you put on
that ecclesiastical superciliousness of yours, I want to cuff you."
"I've no doubt he'd receive it in a proper spirit," said Bellingham,
who was eating himself hot and red from the planked shad before him.
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