much to him, except when it's a
matter of necessity, and then they say as little as may be. Nobody knows
much about him--he is here to-day and gone to-morrow--and we never see
much of him except when there's some mischief afoot. He is thick with
Munro, and they keep together at all times, I believe. He has money, and
knows how to spend it. Where he gets it is quite another thing."

"What can be the source of the intimacy between himself and Munro? Is he
interested in the hotel?"

"Why, I can't say for that, but I think not. The fact is, the tavern is
nothing to Munro; he don't care a straw about it, and some among us do
whisper that he only keeps it a-going as a kind of cover for other
practices. There's no doubt that they drive some trade together, though
what it is I can't say, and never gave myself much trouble to inquire. I
can tell you what, though, there's no doubt on my mind that he's trying
to get Miss Lucy--they say he's fond of her--but I know for myself she
hates and despises him, and don't stop to let him see it."

"She will not have him, then, you think?"

"I know she won't if she can help it. But, poor girl, what can she do?
She's at the mercy, as you may see, of Munro, who is her father's
brother; and he don't care a straw for her likes or dislikes. If he says
the word, I reckon she can have nothing to say which will help her out
of the difficulty. I'm sure he won't regard prayers, or tears, or any of
her objections."

"It's a sad misfortune to be forced into connection with one in whom we
may not confide--whom we can have no sympathy with--whom we can not
love!"

"'Tis so,'squire; and that's just her case, and she hates to see the
very face of him, and avoids him whenever she can do so without giving
offence to her uncle, who, they say, has threatened her bitterly about
the scornful treatment which she shows him. It's a wonder to me how any
person, man or woman, can do otherwise than despise the fellow; for,
look you, 'squire, over and above his sulky, sour looks, and his haughty
conduct, would you believe it, he won't drink himself, yet he's always
for getting other people drunk. But that's not all: he's a quarrelsome,
spiteful, sore-headed chap, that won't do as other people. He never
laughs heartily like a man, but always in a half-sniffling sort of
manner that actually makes me sick at my stomach. Then, he never plays
and makes merry along with us, and, if he does, harm is always sure,
somehow