‘You may call that an improving exhibition,’ protested Chumney. ‘I don’t. And now if you will withdraw your mind from your pigs for five or ten minutes, I’ve got something serious to say to you.’ ‘Serious?’ exclaimed Mr. Piper. ‘Another failure in the wool trade, I suppose. Well, thank goodness, they can’t touch me. My money is safe.’ ‘I’m not going to talk about your money. Where’s Mrs. Piper?’ ‘Gone for a ride with Vanessa Porkman.’ ‘And Captain Standish, I suppose.’ ‘Yes, the captain was with them. He keeps a couple of horses at the “Crown,” so as to be handy for the hunting. They’re going to see the hounds throw off at Milvey Bridge. I think the captain’s sweet upon Vanessa. It would be a very good match for him, and I know the Porkmans would jump at it. But my little woman says no. The Porkmans aren’t good enough for him.’ They had turned out of the farmyard into the plantation, a pleasant place for a morning walk and a friendly chat. The ground was carpeted with fir needles, and Mr. Piper had trodden for himself a narrow track under the trees, while he smoked his after-breakfast cigar. ‘Now, old Chum,’ he said. ‘Nobody can overhear us here. Say your say. It’s something about yourself, I suppose?’ ‘No, it isn’t. It’s something about you. Now, I think you know that I’ve always looked up to you and honoured you, that I’d go through fire and water for you--real fire, and real water.’ ‘Yes, I know that. Go on.’ ‘Now I don’t like to see the man I honour putting himself in a false position, as you are doing every day you tolerate this fellow Standish’s attentions to your wife.’ ‘Don’t be a fool!’ cried Mr. Piper, angrily. ‘Do you suppose I don’t know how to take care of my wife? She likes to have Standish here, because he’s the fashion, and everybody runs after him. I like her to have him here for the same reason. The Porkmans and the Timperleys would give their eyes to be as intimate with Captain Standish as we are; but they haven’t the knack of making their houses pleasant to a man of his stamp. Bella has. She’s spent my money pretty fast, but I don’t begrudge it to her, for she’s given me a position in society that I never had in Moggie’s time, and I’m not too proud to own it. Don’t you come here to insinuate anything against my wife, Chumney, or you and me will cease to know each other,’ concluded Mr. Piper, with dignity. He was incensed with Chumney, but he was not in the slightest degree moved by what Chumney had said. His faith in Bella was rooted deeply. It was intertwined with his faith in himself, and that was invincible. ‘I couldn’t be jealous if I tried,’ he said. ‘My self-respect wouldn’t allow me.’ ‘I don’t want you to be jealous, but I want you to respect yourself,’ answered Chumney. ‘I might have spoken sooner, perhaps, but I waited till I had good grounds for speaking. First and foremost, I’ve found out all about Captain Standish. He’s a bad lot.’ ‘He’s received everywhere in the highest society.’