“No. I’ve neither seen nor heard of him for two or three days. I’d feel better if I had.” Wilmer turned to Allston with an uneasy feeling that something was being concealed by one of the men. “Nor I,” Allston assured her. “And I don’t expect either to see or hear of him again. I have a notion his bark is worse than his bite.” Howe shook his head. “I’m not so sure of that. Those men nourish a grudge for years. That’s how feuds are bred.” “It isn’t Childers who is bothering me,” asserted Allston. “If I were obliged to describe my restlessness I’d have to turn to the spook world and I’m not very keen about that sort of thing.” He sat down again in his chair before the fire, between Howe and his daughter. The latter studied him a moment with amused interest. “Somehow you’re not the kind of man I’d suspect of being susceptible to spirits,” she said. He had rather avoided her eyes this evening. He had found them increasingly dangerous. He would have said that in the last few days they had mellowed and deepened. They were still like pools reflecting the brown of autumn foliage and he was still tempted to fish in them for smiles. But he could not forget what he had caught there once. “Why do you single out me?” he asked. “Because your feet are so solidly on the ground.” “I’m of the earth earthy?” She frowned. “Please don’t misinterpret.” “I don’t mean to, but isn’t that what you said?” She shrugged her pretty shoulders. “I intended rather a compliment, but if you won’t have it--” “I’ll accept all the crumbs of that kind you toss me,” he interrupted. “If you two are beginning another quarrel, I’m going upstairs,” protested Howe good-naturedly. He may have dozed a good deal in their company off and on, but it is surprising what a man of his age can pick up even when half asleep. He was sure of nothing yet, but his suspicions were aroused and he was not at all displeased with them. He had never met a young man who with so little effort had so thoroughly worked his way into his good graces. He had never met a young man whom he so thoroughly trusted. He proved that in his willingness to leave Allston so much alone with his daughter. He had not lived sixty-five years for nothing, and would have been quick enough to foil any development of this sort of which he did not approve.