either one of us two is going to be taken in,
Miss Hungerford, I can tell you it's a blamed sight more likely to be me;
but you're prejudiced against me, I can see. You were prejudiced against
me that first night. I know how those old women talk. They've got an
idea, somehow, that I'm a scapegrace, and a desperate character. And, on
my word, Miss Hungerford, I'm considered a real model chap there at home,
and make speeches to the little boys and girls in Sunday School, and all
that sort of thing. On my word, I do."

Mr. Rollin spoke quite warmly. I could not help laughing at his droll
self-vindication.

"I should like to ask you to speak to my little boys and girls!" I said;
"but it's too harrowing to the feelings. I listened to one address this
afternoon."

"The 'Turkey Mogul?' Oh, that isn't my style!" said Mr. Rollin. "I don't
sear their young vision with the prospect of eternal flames. I entice
them with the blandishments of future reward. Let me go in some
day, and I promise you in one brief half hour to destroy the cankering
effect of all that the 'Turkey Mogul' has ever said. At least, I shall
serve as an antidote--a cheerful and allaying antidote to the wormwood of
censorious criticism."

Thus the voluble fisherman ran on, with an air of simple and charming
ingenuousness; while I reflected that here possibly was a light and
aimless creature whom I had mentally convicted of ungracious designs,
that, although his presence in Wallencamp, as a representative of the
great world I believed I had left behind me, was rather _mal a propos_,
it might be that I ought to consider him providentially included in my
field of labor, and as one of the objects of my regenerating care.

Whether Mr. Rollin detected anything of this philanthropic intention I do
not know. When we got to the gate he said:--

"Will you go with me for a drive to-morrow, Miss Hungerford? You know
what the Wallencamp equipages are. They furnish entertainment, at all
events. The drive to West Wallen is really beautiful--even at this
season of the year, with such uncommonly fine weather, and you have a
holiday, and the mail hasn't been brought from West Wallen for nearly a
week."

I thanked the fisherman almost eagerly, thinking, at that instant, of the
longed-for letters that I knew were waiting for me in the West Wallen
Post Office.

Then, suddenly, I felt Rebecca's little note grow heavy in my hand.

To act voluntarily for others--to consider