willing to move.

Trimble ushered his visitor into the sitting room and went up to see
his wife. She was sitting in an armchair in the room adjoining her
chamber, looking pale and sorrowful.

"Well, Mary," said Trimble, "I've brought Floyd along to answer any
questions relating to poor Edward's death."

"Yes, I shall be glad to see him," answered his wife, in a dull,
spiritless tone.

"Shall I bring him up?"

"If you like."

Trimble went to the landing and called out: "You can come up, Floyd."

Floyd entered the room, holding his hat awkwardly in his hands. He was
not used to society, and did not look forward with much pleasure to the
interview which had been forced upon him.

"I hope I see you well, ma'am," he said, bobbing his head.

"As well as I ever expect to be," answered Mrs. Trimble, sadly. "Your
name is----"

"Floyd, ma'am. Darius Floyd."

"And you knew my poor son?"

"Yes, ma'am, I knew him well. Ed and I was regular cronies."

Mrs. Trimble looked at the man before her, and was mildly surprised.
Certainly Edward must have changed, or he would not keep such company.
But, prejudiced against her son as she had been by her husband's
misrepresentations, she feared that this was only another proof of
Edward's moral decadence.

"You have been in New York recently?"

"Yes; I was there quite a while."

"And you used to see Edward?"

"'Most every day, ma'am."

"How was he employed?"

This was not a question to which Mr. Floyd had prepared an answer. He
looked to Mr. Trimble as if for a suggestion, and the latter nodded
impatiently, and shaped his mouth to mean "anything."

"He was tendin' a pool room, ma'am," said Floyd, with what he thought a
lucky inspiration. "He was tendin' a pool room on Sixth Avenue."

"He must indeed have changed to accept such employment. I hope he
didn't drink?"

"Not often, ma'am; just a glass of sarsaparilla or lemon soda. Them are
my favorites."

Abner Trimble turned aside to conceal a smile. He remembered Mr.
Floyd's objecting to the innocent beverages mentioned, and his decided
preference for whisky.

"I am glad that he was not intemperate. You saw the accident?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please tell me once more what you can."

"I took a boat down at the Battery to have a row one afternoon, when,
after a while, I saw another boat comin' out with three fellers into
it. One of them was your son, Edward."

"Did you know Edward's companions?"

"Never saw them b