“God forbid, sir! I had no such intention, I assure you, sir. I am sure no one could be more welcome at any time to Waynewood, and I trust, sir, that we shall often have the pleasure of seeing you here, sir.” Winthrop’s laugh held a touch of exasperation. “But, Great Scott! Major, you’re proposing to turn me out of my own house!” “Bless your soul, sir, don’t say that! Dear, dear! Does it sound that way to you? My apologies, Mr. Winthrop! I won’t say another word, sir!” The Major rolled the cigar agitatedly about in the corner of his loose mouth. “Look here,” said Winthrop, “let’s understand each other, Major. I have come into possession of this property and we’ll allow for the sake of the argument that it holds no sentimental value for me. Now what do you propose I should do? Sign a new rental and pack up my things and go home again?” “Nothing of the kind, sir, I assure you! What I meant to convey was that as you were intending to stay here in Corunna only two or three months, you could perhaps be quite as comfortable in the Palmetto House as at Waynewood. The Palmetto House, sir, is a very well-managed hotel, sir, and you would receive the most hospitable treatment.” “Thanks for your frankness, Major. This Palmetto House is in the village?” “It is, sir. It faces the court-house on the south.” “And it has a large garden in front of it, with trees and vines and roses and a marble Cupid dancing in a bed of box?” The Major shook his head regretfully. “Well, Major, the place I’ve taken a fancy to boasts of just those attractions. Don’t you think that perhaps we could somehow arrange it so that I could stay there?” “Do you mean, sir, that you would be willing to remain here as――as a paying guest?” asked the Major, eagerly. Winthrop shrugged his shoulders. “Why not? If the ladies are agreeable. At first sight there may be something a trifle anomalous in the idea of the owner of a property who has journeyed several hundred miles to occupy it petitioning for the privilege of being allowed to remain as a boarder, but, of course, I have the limitations of the Northerner and doubtless fail to get the correct point of view.” But Winthrop’s irony was quite lost on the Major. “My dear sir, you have taken a great load from my mind,” exclaimed the latter. “I had hoped that the difficulty might be surmounted in just the way you propose, but somehow I gathered after meeting you that you――ah――resented the presence of the ladies.” “Nonsense!” said Winthrop, a trifle impatiently. “Miss Wayne and her niece are quite welcome to remain here as long as they like. I was, however, naturally surprised to find anyone in possession. By all means let us renew the rental agreement. Meanwhile, if the ladies are agreeable, I will remain here and pay board and room-rent. I dare say my visit will not cover more than three months. And I will try to be as little trouble as possible.”