Theron had halted instinctively. On the instant he would have given
a great deal not to have stopped at all. It was stupid of him to have
paused, but it would not do now to go on without words of some sort. He
moved over to the door-way, and made a half-hearted pretence of looking
at the photographs in one of the show-cases at its side. As Mr. Gorringe
did not take his hands from his pockets, there was no occasion for any
formal greeting.

"I had no idea that they took such good pictures in Octavius," Theron
remarked after a minute's silence, still bending in examination of the
photographs.

"They ought to; they charge New York prices," observed the lawyer,
sententiously.

Theron found in the words confirmation of his feeling that Gorringe was
not naturally a lavish or extravagant man. Rather was he a careful and
calculating man, who spent money only for a purpose. Though the minister
continued gazing at the stiff presentments of local beauties and
swains, his eyes seemed to see salmon-hued hollyhocks and spotted lilies
instead. Suddenly a resolve came to him. He stood erect, and faced his
trustee.

"Speaking of the price of things," he said, with an effort of arrogance
in his measured tone, "I have never had an opportunity before of
mentioning the subject of the flowers you have so kindly furnished for
my--for MY garden."

"Why mention it now?" queried Gorringe, with nonchalance. He turned his
cigar about with a movement of his lips, and worked it into the corner
of his mouth. He did not find it necessary to look at Theron at all.

"Because--" began Mr. Ware, and then hesitated--"because--well, it
raises a question of my being under obligation, which I--"

"Oh, no, sir," said the lawyer; "put that out of your mind. You are no
more under obligation to me than I am to you. Oh, no, make yourself easy
about that. Neither of us owes the other anything."

"Not even good-will--I take that to be your meaning," retorted Theron,
with some heat.

"The words are yours, sir," responded Gorringe, coolly. "I do not object
to them."

"As you like," put in the other. "If it be so, why, then all the more
reason why I should, under the circumstances--"

"Under what circumstances?" interposed the lawyer. "Let us be clear
about this thing as we go along. To what circumstances do you refer?"

He had turned his eyes now, and looked Theron in the face. A slight
protrusion of his lower jaw had given the cigar an upward tilt un