The next day Mark arrived in New York. He alighted at the "Albemarle"
and proceeded at once to make himself as presentable as his worn uniform
would permit, and after a deal of brushing came out almost as
smart-looking as a West Point cadet. As the time for the longed-for
meeting neared, an unaccountable timidity seized him, and it required
more screwing up of his courage to ring the door-bell of Mr. Mumbie's
house, than it would to have made him charge a battery. The new
residence of the Mumbies was one of those extravagant structures that
line the Fifth Avenue, and costly enough to be the domicil of a duke.
Mark asked to see Miss Heath. The domestic who answered his ring replied
that he did not know whether she were in or not, but would go and
see--would the gentleman give his name?