Quincy's Aunt Ella was Mrs. Robert Chessman, his mother's widowed sister. As soon as the train started Quincy opened his letter. It was short and to the point. "My DEAR QUINCY:--Maude gave me your address. What are you doing in a miserable, little country town in the winter? They are bad enough in the summer, but in March!--'Bah! Come and see me at once, you naughty boy! AUNT ELLA." "Dated yesterday," said Quincy; "how fortunate. I will go up to Mt. Vernon Street to-morrow noon and take lunch with her." When Quincy reached Boston he went directly to his father's office. The Hon. Mr. Sawyer was not present, but his partners, Mr. Franklin Crowninshield and Mr. Atherton Lawrence, were busily engaged. Quincy took a seat at the desk which, he had occupied before going to Eastborough, and wrote out his advertisement for the New York "Herald." It read as follows: "Linda. Important paper discovered; communicate at once with Q.A.S., Eastborough." He enclosed a check to cover a fortnight's insertion; then walked down State Street to the post office to mail his letter. When he returned, Mr. Lawrence informed him that his father was in his private office. His father greeted him pleasantly, but not effusively; in fact, any marked exhibition of approval or disapproval was foreign to the Sawyer character, while the Quincys were equally notable for their reticence and imperturbability. "When shall we have the pleasure of your continued presence at home?" asked the father. "To-night," replied Quincy, with a smile, "I shall be with you at dinner, stay all night, and take breakfast with you." "I trust your long visit will not oblige you to neglect other more important matters," said the father. "Oh, no!" answered Quincy. "I have looked out for that." "And when do you think your health will allow you to resume your position in the office?" inquired the Hon. Nathaniel. "That is very uncertain," replied Quincy. "If you do not intend to come back at all," continued the father, "that would simplify matters. I could then make room for a Harvard graduate to study with us." Quincy reflected. He had been taught by his father not to give a positive answer to any question on the spur of the moment, if more time could be taken, as well as not, for consideration. So, after a few moments of thought, Quincy said, "I will write you in the course of ten days or a fortnight, and give you a positive answer." "That will be entirely satisfactory," answered his father. "As you are going out, will you kindly tell Mr. Crowninshield that I wish to consult with him?" Quincy knew that the interview had expired by limitation. He went home, but found that his mother and sisters were out riding. "They will return in time for dinner," said Delia, the parlor maid.