“Good morning, captain,” said Mr. Easterfield cheerily, for he had heard much in praise of the toll-gate keeper from his wife.

“Good morning, Mr. Easterfield,” said the captain gravely.

“I am glad I do not have to introduce myself,” said Mr. Easterfield, “for I am only going through your gate as far as that tree to tie my horse.  Then, if convenient to you, I should like to have a little talk with you.”

The captain’s mind, which had been relieved when Mr. Easterfield paid his toll, now sank again.  But he could not say a talk would be inconvenient.  “If I had known that you were not going on,” he said, “you need not have paid.”

“Like most people in this life,” said Mr. Easterfield, “I pay for what I have already done, and not for what I am going to do.  And now have you leisure, sir, for a short conversation?”

The captain looked very glum.  He felt not the slightest desire now to ask questions, and still less desire to be interrogated.  However, he was not afraid of anything any one might say to him; and if a certain subject was broached, he had something to say himself.

“Yes,” said he; “do you prefer indoors or out of doors?”

“Out of doors, if it suits,” replied the visitor, “for I would like to take a smoke.”

“I am with you there,” said the captain, as he led the way to the little arbor.

Here Mr. Easterfield lighted a cigar, and the captain a pipe.

“Now, sir,” said the latter, when the tobacco in his bowl was in a satisfactory glow, “what is it you want to talk about?” He spoke as if he were behind entrenchments, and ready for an attack.

“We have two of your guests with us,” answered Mr. Easterfield, “Professor Lancaster, and your niece.”

“Oh,” said the captain, evidently relieved.  “I thought perhaps you had come to ask questions about some reports you may have heard in regard to me.”

“Not at all, not at all,” said Mr. Easterfield.  “I would not think of mentioning your private affairs, about which I have not the slightest right or wish to speak.  But as we have apparently appropriated two of your young people, I think, and Mrs. Easterfield agrees with me, that it is but right you should be informed as to their health, and what they are doing.”

The captain puffed vigorously.  “When is Dick Lancaster coming back” he asked.

“I can’t say anything about that,” replied Mr. Easterfield, “for I am not master of ceremonies.  We would like to keep him as long as we can, but, of course, your claims must be considered.”

“I should think so,” remarked the captain.

“Professor Lancaster is a remarkably fine young man,” said the other, “and as he is a friend of yours, and as I should like him to be a friend of mine, it would give me pleasure to talk to you more about him.  But I may as well confess that my real object in coming here is to talk about your niece.  Of course, as I said before, it might appear that I have no right to meddle with your family affairs, but in this case I certainly think I am justified; for, as Mrs. Easterfield invited the young lady to leave you and to come to her, and as all that has happened to her has happened at our house, and in consequence of that invitation, I think that you, as her nearest accessible relative, should be told of what has occurred.”