“Holly has begged me not to be hard on you, Major,” she said, in her sweet, still youthful voice. “Pray what have you been doing now? You are not here, I trust, to plead guilty to another case of reprehensible philanthropy?” “No, Miss Indy, I assure you that you have absolutely reformed me, ma’am.” Miss India smiled in polite incredulity, tapping one slender hand upon the other as she might in the old days at the White Sulphur have tapped him playfully, yet quite decorously, with her folded fan. The Major chose not to observe the incredulity and continued: “The fact is, my dear Miss Indy, that I have come on a matter of more――ah――importance. You will recollect――pardon me, pray, if I recall unpleasant memories to mind――you will recollect that when your brother died it was found that he had unfortunately left very little behind him in the way of worldly wealth. He passed onward, madam, rich in the love and respect of the community, but poor in earthly possessions.” The Major paused and rubbed his bristly chin agitatedly. Miss India bowed silently. “As his executor,” continued the Major, “it was my unpleasant duty to offer this magnificent estate for sale. It was purchased, as you will recollect, by Judge Linderman, of Georgia, a friend of your brother’s――――” “Pardon me, Major; an acquaintance.” “Madam, all those so fortunate as to become acquainted with Captain Lamar Wayne were his friends.” Miss India bowed again and waived the point. “Judge Linderman, as he informed me at the time of the purchase, bought the property as a speculation. He was the owner of much real estate throughout the South. At his most urgent request you consented to continue your residence at Waynewood, paying him rent for the property.” “But nevertheless,” observed Miss India, a trifle bitterly, “being to a large extent an object of his charity. The sum paid as rent is absurd.” “Nominal, madam, I grant you,” returned the Major. “Had our means allowed we should have insisted on paying more. But you are unjust to yourself when you speak of charity. As I pointed out――or, rather, as Judge Linderman pointed out to me, had you moved from Waynewood he would have been required to install a care-taker, which would have cost him several dollars a month, whereas under the arrangement made he drew a small but steady interest from the investment. I now come, my dear Miss Indy, to certain facts which are――with which you are, I think, unacquainted. That that is so is my fault, if fault there is. Believe me, I accept all responsibility in the matter and am prepared to bear your reproaches without a murmur, knowing that I have acted for what I have believed to be the best.” Miss India’s calm face showed a trace of agitation and her crossed hands trembled a little. The Major paused as though deliberating. “Pray continue, Major,” she said. “Whatever you have done has been done, I am certain, from motives of true friendship.” The Major bowed gratefully.