Squire Marlowe returned to the breakfast room, wearing rather an embarrassed expression. Percy had followed his mother, and the old man found himself for a short time alone. There was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes, which vanished on the reappearance of his nephew. "I am sorry to have left you alone, Uncle Jacob," said the squire, civilly. "Oh, don't treat me with any ceremony, Albert. Being as we are such near relations, we ought to be free and easy like." "I am glad to hear you say so, for I shall be obliged to treat you unceremoniously." "Eh?" said Uncle Jacob, inquiringly. "I regret to say that my wife, who is of a _very_ delicate organization, is taken suddenly ill, and I am afraid I shall have to ask you to cut your visit short, and come again some other time." "I'm surprised to hear that, Albert. I thought Mrs. Marlowe looked in excellent health." "You can't always tell by outward appearances. She is subject to severe headaches, and in that condition can't bear the least noise or excitement. That is why I can't invite you to stay any longer." "I understand," said Uncle Jacob, with--it might have been--a little significance in his tone. "I have no doubt," went on the squire, "that Mrs. Barton will be glad to have you pay her a short visit. I will get Percy to drive you down there." "Thank you," answered the old man, dryly, "but it's only a little way, and I don't mind walking." "Just as you prefer," said the squire, relieved by Uncle Jacob's declination of his offer, for he knew that Percy would not enjoy the trip. "I'll get ready to go at once, Albert. Oh, about my plan of opening a cigar store in Lakeville?" "I cannot advise you to do it," rejoined the squire, hastily. "You wouldn't make enough to pay your rent, or not much more." "Don't the men in your factory smoke? There's a good many of them. If I could get their trade----" "They smoke pipes for the most part," said the squire, hurriedly. "They'd find cigars too expensive." "I meant to combine candy with cigars. That would be a help." "They keep candy at the grocery store, Uncle Jacob." "I see there isn't much show for me. Now if I only understood your business, you could give me something to do in the factory, Albert." "But you don't, and, in fact, Uncle Jacob, it's too hard work for a man of your age." "Then what would you advise me to do, Albert?" asked the old man, earnestly. Squire Marlowe assumed a thoughtful look. In fact, he was puzzled to decide how best to get rid of the troublesome old man. To have him remain in Lakeville was not to be thought of. He would gladly have got rid of Mrs. Barton and her son, whose relationship to his family was unfortunately known, but there seemed to be no way clear to that without the expenditure of money. To have Uncle Jacob for a neighbor, in addition, would be a source of mortification, not only to himself, but even more to his wife and Percy, whose aristocratic ideas he well knew.