“It is a fine country, and abounds in handsome places.” “And well mortgaged, too, the most of them.” “You 'd not see better farming than that in Norfolk, cleaner wheat or neater drills; in fact, one might imagine himself in England.” “So he might, for the matter of taxes. I don't see much difference.” “Why don't you smoke? Things look pleasanter through the blue haze of a good Havannah,” said Hunter, smiling. “I don't want them to look pleasanter than they are,” was the dry rejoinder. Whether Hunter did or did not, he scarcely liked his counsellor, and, re-lighting a cigar, he turned his back once more on him. “I'm one of those old-fashioned fellows,” continued the Major, leaning over towards his companion, “who would rather see things as they are, not as they might be; and when I remarked you awhile ago so pleased with the elegant luncheon and Miss Polly's talents for housekeeping, I was laughing to myself over it all.” “How do you mean? What did you laugh at?” said Hunter, half fiercely. “Just at the way you were taken in, that's all.” “Taken in?--taken in? A very strange expression for an hospitable reception and a most agreeable visit.” “Well, it's the very word for it, after all; for as to the hospitable reception, it was n't meant for us, but for that tall Captain,--the dark-complexioned fellow,--Staples, I think they call him.” “Captain Stapylton?” “Yes, that's the man. He ordered Healey's car to take him over here; and I knew when the Dills sent over to Mrs. Brierley for a loan of the two cut decanters and the silver cruet-stand, something was up; and so I strolled down, by way of--to reconnoitre the premises, and see what old Dill was after.” “Well, and then?” “Just that I saw it all,--the elegant luncheon, and the two bottles of wine, and the ginger cordials, all laid out for the man that never came; for it would seem he changed his mind about it, and went back to head-quarters.” “You puzzle me more and more at every word. What change of mind do you allude to? What purpose do you infer he had in coming over here to-day?” The only answer M'Cormick vouchsafed to this was by closing one eye and putting his finger significantly to the tip of his nose, while he said, “Catch a weasel asleep!” “I more than suspect,” said Hunter, sternly, “that this half-pay life works badly for a man's habits, and throws him upon very petty and contemptible modes of getting through his time. What possible business could it be of yours to inquire why Stapylton came, or did not come here to-day, no more than for the reason of _my_ visit?” “Maybe I could guess that, too, if I was hard pushed,” said M'Cormick, whose tone showed no unusual irritation from the late rebuke. “I was in the garden all the time, and heard everything.” “Listened to what I was saying to Miss Dill!” cried Hunter, whose voice of indignation could not now be mistaken.