ried with the Duvals in the Cemetery, here."

"He is!" Croyden exclaimed. "Humph! one more circumstance to prove the
letter speaks the truth. Everything but the thing itself. We find his
will, probated with Marmaduke Duval as executor, we even discover a
notice of his death in the _Gazette_, and now, finally, you find his
body--or the place of its interment! But, hang it all! what is really
worth while, we can't find."

"Come into the house--I'll give you something to soothe your feelings
temporarily," said Miss Carrington.

They encountered Miss Erskine just coming from the library on her way
to the door.

"My dear Davila, so glad to see you!" she exclaimed. "And Mr. Croyden,
we thought you had deserted us, and just when we're trying to make you
feel at home. So glad to welcome you back!" holding out her fat hand.

"I'm delighted to be back," said Croyden. "The Carringtons seemed
genuinely glad to see me--and, now, if I may include you, I'm quite
content to return," and he shook her hand, as though he meant it.

"Of course you may believe it," with an inane giggle. "I'm going to
bring my art class over to Clarendon to revel in your treasures, some
day, soon. You'll be at home to them, won't you, dear Mr. Croyden?"

"Surely! I shall take pleasure in being at home," Croyden replied,
soberly.

Then Macloud, who was talking with the Captain, was called over and
presented, that being, Miss Carrington thought, the quickest method of
getting rid of her. The evident intention to remain until he was
presented, being made entirely obvious by Miss Erskine, who, after she
had bubbled a bit more, departed.

"What is her name, I didn't catch it?--and" (observing smiles on
Croyden and Miss Carrington's faces) "what is she?"

"I think father can explain, in more appropriate language!" Miss
Carrington laughed.

"She's the most intolerable nuisance and greatest fool in Hampton!"
Captain Carrington exploded.

"A red flag to a bull isn't in it with Miss Erskine and father," Miss
Carrington observed.

"But I hide it pretty well--while she's here," he protested.

"If she's not here too long--and you can get away, in time."

When the two men left the Carrington place, darkness had fallen. As
they approached Clarendon, the welcoming brightness of a well-lighted
house sprang out to greet them. It was Croyden's one extravagance--to
have plenty of illumination. He had always been accustomed to it, and
the gloom, at night, of t