"And must we really go to this house-warming?" asked Mrs. Wyllys. "Elinor and I have already accepted the invitation;" said Miss Agnes. "My father wished us to go, for he really has a great respect for Mr. Hubbard." "Well, I can't say that the gentlemen strike me as so much superior to the ladies of the family. 'Uncle Josie' seems to admire his daughter's nonsense; and 'Uncle Dozie' never opens his lips." "There is not a shade of fascination about them, however," said Elinor. "I grant you that," said Mrs. Wyllys, smiling. "I shall decline the invitation, though, I think." "That you can do very easily;" said Miss Agnes. The ladies then followed Mrs. Graham to an adjoining room, to see the little invalid, and talk over the new arrangement for the winter. It was fortunate for Harry, that they had left the drawing-room before he entered it; for he no sooner appeared at the door, than the same little chatter-box, who had betrayed the change in her mother's plans to Mrs. Hilson, ran up to him to tell the great news that they were not going back to Charleston, but were to stay in New York all winter, 'mamma, and Jane, and all of them, except papa and Edward.' The varying expression of surprise, pleasure, and distress, that passed over Hazlehurst's face, as he received the intelligence, would have astonished and perplexed Miss Agnes, had she seen it. He had depended upon Jane's absence to lighten the course which he felt it was his duty to pursue; and now she was to be in New York! Of course, she would be half her time with Elinor, as usual. And, if he had already found it so difficult, since they had all been together, to conceal the true state of his feelings, how should he succeed in persevering in the same task for months? He determined, at least, to leave Longbridge, for a time, and remain in Philadelphia, until the Grahams were settled in New York. The same evening, as the family at Wyllys-Roof, and himself, were sitting together, he announced his intention. "Can I do anything for you, in Philadelphia, Elinor?" he asked; "I shall have to go to town, to-morrow, and may be detained a week or ten days." "Are you really going to town?--I did not know you were thinking of it. I wish I had known it this morning, for I am very much in want of worsteds for the chair-pattern Jane brought me; but, unfortunately, I left it at Aunt Wyllys's. Did you say you were going to-morrow?" "Yes, I must be off in the morning." "Then I must give up my pattern, for the present." "Is there nothing else I can do for you?" "Nothing, thank you--unless you bring some new books; which, we will leave to your taste, to choose." "Is not this rather a sudden move, Harry?" said Mr. Wyllys, who had just finished a game of chess with Miss Agnes. "I haven't heard you mention it before?" "I intended to put it off; sir; but, on thinking the matter over, I find I had better go at once."