The squire paused in some embarrassment. Miss Sibby took advantage of the momentary silence to nudge Miss Susannah Grandiere and whisper: “I knowed it. Everything as is hid, sez I, is sure to come out, sez I; but it’s nothing ag’in Abel Force, whatever it is, sez I. I’ll bet on the old squire every time, sez I.” Mr. Force went on: “You have all taken—or seemed to take—much for granted in our lives which was not true. Now did you not?” “Why—not that I know of, Force. I don’t know of any mistakes we any of us ever made about you,” exclaimed old Capt. Grandiere, answering for all his neighbors. “In what respect have we done you wrong?” he next inquired. “In no respect have you done me wrong. You have only taken some things for granted and made some harmless mistakes.” “What mistakes?” These questions helped the embarrassed squire in his awkward explanations. Perhaps he drew them out for the purpose. “For instance,” he replied, “you all took it for granted, when I married in Europe, that I had married a young lady who had never been married before.” “Yes, of course,” replied the old skipper, while every one else listened in silent expectation. “You never imagined that I had married a young widow.” “Good Heaven! No!” exclaimed the old sailor, opening his eyes to their widest extent. “None of us ever could have dreamed of such a thing. So Mrs. Force was a widow when you married her?” “Yes; the widow of the late Prince Luigi Saviola, of Naples.” “Goo-oo-ood gracious! And you never let on a word about it to any of us!” “There was no occasion. The way did not open to make such an announcement without apparent egotism,” replied the squire, discreetly, but not very convincingly. “I confess I do not see where the egotism would have been,” said Miss Susannah Grandiere. “There may be a difference of opinion on that head,” said Abel Force. “I could not go up and down the country proclaiming aloud to all and sundry of my farmer neighbors that I had married the widow of the late Prince Luigi Saviola. Nor should I even mention the fact here among my old friends this evening but that new developments of circumstances have made it necessary to do so.” “‘Needs must when the devil drives,’ sez I. Not that Abel Force has anything to do with the devil, sez I. No, indeed. I bet on Abel Force every time, sez I,” muttered Miss Sibby, aside to Mrs. Hedge. “Now, squire, speak right up. Tell us all about it. You look as if you couldn’t come to the point. You have got something more to tell us besides that you married a beautiful young widow. Out with it, squire. We are all friends here,” heartily exclaimed old Gideon Grandiere. Thus backed up and encouraged, the embarrassed and hesitating master of Mondreer took heart of grace, and told the story of his wife’s first marriage. Not the whole story, by a long deal! He suppressed much that did not concern his neighbors to be told, and would not have edified them to hear.