e said to himself, "Troubles love to flock together and I
expect I shall find a worrying letter from Harry this morning"; but
there was no letter at all from Harry and he felt relieved. The only
personal note that came to him was a request that he would not fail to
be present at the meeting of the Gentlemen's Club that evening, as there
was important business to transact.

He sat with this message in his hand, considering. He had for some time
felt uneasy about his continuance in the Club, for its social
regulations were strict and limited. Composed mostly of the landed
gentry in the neighborhood, it had very slowly and reluctantly opened
its doors to a few of the most wealthy manufacturers, and Harry's
appearance as a public and professional singer negatived his right to
its exclusive membership. In case Harry was asked to resign, John would
certainly withdraw with his brother. Yet the mere thought of such a
social humiliation troubled him.

When the mail was attended to be rose quickly, shook himself, as if he
would shake off the trouble that oppressed him, and went through the
mill with Greenwood. This duty he performed with such minute attention
that the overseer privately wondered whatever was the matter with
"Master John," but soon settled the question, by a decision that "he hed
been worried by his wife a bit, and it hed put him all out of gear, and
no wonder." For Greenwood had had his own experiences of this kind and
had suffered many things in consequence of them. So he was sorry for
John as he told himself that "whether married men were rich or poor,
things were pretty equal for them."

Just as the two men parted, Jonathan said, in a kind of afterthought
way, "There's a full meeting of the Gentlemen's Club tonight, sir. I
suppose you know."

"Certainly, but how is it _you_ know?"

"You may well ask that, sir. I am truly nobbut one o' John Hatton's
overseers, but I hev a son who has married into a landed family, and he
told me that some of the old quality were going to propose his
father-in-law for membership tonight. I promised my Ben I would ask your
vote in Master Akers' favor."

"Akers has bought a deal of land lately, I hear."

"Most of the old Akers' Manor back, and there are those who think he
ought to be recognized. I hope you will give him a ball of the right
color, sir."

"Greenwood, I am not well acquainted with Israel Akers. I see him at the
market dinner occasionally, but----"

"Think