'I want you to permit me to go to New-York and try what I can do.' 'Have you any plan?' 'I can not say I have. It would depend on circumstances.' 'Have you confidence in achieving something?' 'I have sufficient to induce me to wish to make the attempt.' 'Well, you shall go.' 'I would like to start to-morrow.' 'Very well; come to my house after tea and we will look over the papers.' 'I am much obliged to you, sir.' Mr. Burns started to leave the office; he opened the door and was half out; then he turned. 'By the way, Meeker, come and take tea with me; we will then be ready to go at once into the accounts.' 'Thank you, sir.' The door closed and Hiram was left alone. What a moment of triumph, as he regarded it! '_Invited_ to the house at last! I knew I should fetch it. Let us see ... very good.... Now, young lady....' The murmurings finally became inaudible as Hiram rose and walked up and down the room, stopping occasionally, and then starting rapidly on. Mr. Burns proceeded homeward, quite unconscious of the excitement he had raised in Hiram's breast. Always considerate and just, it occurred to him since he had requested the young man to come to his house on business, thus breaking over his usual rule, that he ought to ask him to tea, and accordingly he did so. He announced the fact to Sarah as he entered the house. He was too much preoeccupied to observe a slight flush rise to her cheeks as he spoke. She, however, only replied: 'Any thing unusual, father?' 'Yes; Stevens has returned from New-York, accomplishing nothing. I am going to send Meeker. We are to look over matters this evening.' 'Indeed, Do you think he can do better than Stevens?' 'Yes, I think so. Besides, he wants to go. He volunteered to go.' 'Is it possible?' 'Why not, my child?' 'I am sure I don't know; it seems strange.' 'Perhaps it does; but I confess I have a great deal of confidence that he will bring something about.' That evening the appearance of the table was slightly changed--not enough to attract Mr. Burns's attention, but there was a greater display of silver than usual, and a nicer regard to arrangement. The same might be said of Sarah herself. The casual observer would not notice it, one of her own sex would. One minute past the appointed time master Hiram arrived, direct from the office, where he had been so immersed in accounts, head and hands so full of business, as almost to forget the tea-hour. Yes, he came direct from the office. But previously he had stepped to his room, and without 'dressing up,' or apparently disturbing the usual arrangement of his wardrobe, managed to make himself especially presentable. In short, he had done just what Sarah Burns had done. I wish you could have witnessed the meeting between them. You would have thought Hiram in the habit of going all his life to the house, instead of entering it for the first time. No forwardness, though, no assumption, yet entire freedom from awkwardness or embarrassment.