After supper, Major Welch and Dr. Cary, who had renewed their old acquaintance, fell to talking of the war, and Ruth was astonished to find how differently their host looked at things from the way in which all the people she had ever known regarded them. It was strange to the girl to hear her people referred to as “the Yankees” or “the enemy”; and the other side, which she had always heard spoken of as “rebels,” mentioned with pride as “the Confederates” or “our men.” After a little, she heard her father ask about the man he had come South to see—Mr. Hiram Still. “Do you know him?” he asked their host. “Oh, yes, sir, I know him. We all know him. He was overseer for one of my friends and connections, who was, perhaps, the wealthiest man in this section before the war, Mr. Gray, of Red Rock, the place where you spent the night you spoke of. Colonel Gray was killed at Shiloh, and his property all went to pay his debts afterward. He had some heavy endorsements, and it turned out that he owed a great deal of money to Still for negroes he had bought to stock a large plantation he had in one of the other States—at least, the overseer gave this explanation, and produced the bonds, which proved to be genuine, though at first it was thought they must be forged. I suppose it was all right, though some people thought not, and it seems hard to have that fellow living in Gray’s house.” “But he bought it, did he not?” asked Major Welch. “Oh, yes, sir, he bought it—bought it at a forced sale,” said Dr. Cary, slowly. “But I don’t know—to see that fellow living up there looks very strange. There are some things so opposed to the customary course of events that the mind refuses to accept them.” “Still lives somewhat lower down, I believe?” said Major Welch. “No, sir, he is not very far off,” said Dr. Cary. “He is just across the river a few miles. Do you know him?” “No, I do not. Not personally, that is. What sort of a man is he?” “Well, sir, he does not stand very well,” answered Dr. Cary, deliberately. “Ah! Why, if I may ask?” Major Welch was stiffening a little. “Well, he went off to the radicals,” said Dr. Cary, slowly, and Ruth was amused at the look on her father’s face. “But surely a man may be a republican and not be utterly bad?” said Major Welch. “Yes, I suppose so, elsewhere,” admitted the other, doubtfully. “In fact, I have known one or two gentlemen who were—who thought it best to accept everything, and begin anew—I did myself at first. But I soon found it impossible. It does not prove efficacious down here. You see—But, perhaps, you are one yourself, sir?” very politely. “I am,” said Major Welch, and Ruth could see him stiffen. “Ah!” Their host leaned a little back. “Well, I beg your pardon. Perhaps, we will not discuss politics,” he said, with great courtesy. “We should only disagree and—you are my guest.” “But surely we can talk politics without becoming—ah—We have been discussing the war?” said Major Welch.