Mrs. Cristie's mind was still filled with surprise and vexation, but she could not help laughing at Mr. Lodloe's comical contrition. "I will see her presently," she said; "but in the mean time what are you going to do? There is Mr. Petter standing in the doorway waiting for your approach, and he will ask you a lot of questions." "About the Germantown family, I suppose," said Lodloe. "Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "that will be one of them." "Well, I don't know them," said Lodloe, "and that's the end of it." "By no means," said the lady, quickly; "Mr. Petter has on his most impressive air. You must go and talk to him, and it will not do to sneer at the Rockmores." "If it is absolutely necessary to have credentials in order to secure quarters here," said Lodloe, "I don't see what is to be done about it." "Come with me," said Mrs. Cristie, quickly; "you have put yourself to a great deal of trouble for me, and I will see what I can do for you." When Walter Lodloe and Mr. Petter had been formally introduced to each other, the brow of the latter bore marks of increased trouble and uncertainty. From the confidential aspect of the interview between Mrs. Cristie and the young man, the landlord of the inn had begun to suspect what his wife had suspected, and it galled his spirit to think of putting his usual test question to this friend of Mrs. Cristie. But he was a man of principle, and he did not flinch. "Are you from Philadelphia, sir," he asked, "or its vicinity?" "No," said Lodloe; "I am from New York." [Illustration: LODLOE IS INTRODUCED TO STEPHEN PETTER.] "A great many Philadelphia people," continued the landlord, "or those from its vicinity, are well known in New York, and in fact move in leading circles there. Are you acquainted, sir, with the Rockmores of Germantown?" Mrs. Petter now appeared in the doorway, her face clouded. If Mrs. Cristie had known the Rockmores she would have hastened to give Mr. Lodloe such advantages as an acquaintance in the second degree might afford. But she had never met any member of that family, the valuable connection being entirely on the side of her late husband. "I did not know," said Lodloe, "that you required credentials of respectability, or I might have brought a lot of letters." "One from Matthew Vassar?" said Mrs. Cristie, unable to resist her opportunity. "Were you acquainted with Matthew Vassar?" interpolated Mrs. Petter with energetic interest. "He was a great and good man, and his friends ought to be good enough for anybody. Now put it to yourself, Stephen. Don't you think that the friends of Matthew Vassar, the founder of that celebrated college, known all over the world, a man who even after his day and generation is doing so much good, are worthy to be accommodated in this house?" Mr. Petter contracted his brows, looked upon the ground, and interlaced his fingers in front of him.