a real fondness for the town. But
as he says, the world's a big place, and it don't stand to reason that
all of it that's worth seeing is right under our noses. Robert says
that some folks who think they're so dreadful patriotic are nothing in
the world but narrow."

For a moment Mr. Hornblower seemed tempted to take up the gauntlet with
himself, challenging his own forcibly expressed convictions. And then
as if realizing the uselessness of such an attempt, he sighed heavily
and sought consolation in the gravy. And Mrs. Hornblower demonstrated
the sweeping character of her victory by saying plaintively: "Of course
a woman always feels breaking off old associations the way a man can't
understand. Robert laughs at me. He says he b'lieves I fairly get
attached to a mop I've used and hate to change to a new one. But a
woman can't be a good wife, Persis, and think of herself. She's just
got to set aside her own feelings and preferences, and look at what's
best for her husband."

It was characteristic of Mrs. Hornblower's shrewdness that supper was
always late when she had a dressmaker in the house. The fire refused
to draw. A scarcity of eggs necessitated a change in her plans for
supper, and the new menu invariably demanded more time than that
originally decided upon. Persis, left to herself, and thoroughly
understanding the purpose back of these various delays and
postponements, smiled grimly, yet not without a certain reluctant
admiration, and retaliated by sewing more and more slowly. And for the
hundredth time that day, her thoughts returned to Mrs. Hornblower's
careless reference to a prospective visit. Mr. Ware! Could she have
meant Justin? His connection with the apple company made this seem
almost certain, and yet it was inconceivable that Lena Hornblower
should refer to his coming with such nonchalant certainty when she
herself was in the dark. Persis' capable hands dropped to her lap.
For the minute she was a girl again, parting from the boy who loved
her, lifting her tear-wet face for the comfort of his kisses. Twenty
years! Twenty long hard years! And now Justin Ware was really coming
home.

She put the question bluntly to Robert Hornblower as he drove her home
after dark. "Your wife said something about a Mr. Ware's coming here
before long. I used to go to school with somebody of that name, Justin
Ware."

The depressed and silent Mr. Hornblower roused himself.

"It's the same one. T