gested, but asked what he
meant by the uniform, and laughed still more when he told her he was
going to borrow one for the occasion from Kenneth, as Evilena had
announced her scorn for all ununiformed men, and he did not mean to
risk failure in a dress suit. Later he had an idea of applying for a
uniform of his own as surgeon in the army.

"If you could introduce _that_ into your serenade I have no fear my
little girl would refuse you," said Mrs. McVeigh, encouragingly, "at
least not more than two or three times."

On leaving Mrs. McVeigh he stumbled against Masterson, who was in the
shadow just outside the window within which Monroe was in interested
converse with Matthew Loring and some other residents of the county.
He had been deliberately, and, in his own opinion, justifiably, a
listener to every sentence advanced by the suspected Northerner, whom
he felt was imposing on the hospitality of the South only to betray
it.

Earnest as his convictions were he had not yet been able to discern
the slightest trace of double intent in any of Monroe's remarks, which
were, for the most part, of agricultural affairs, foreign affairs,
even the possible future of the Seminoles in the Florida swamp; of
everything, in fact, but the very vital question of the day
surrounding them, which only tended to confirm his idea that the man
was remarkably clever, and he despaired of securing sufficient
evidence against him in the brief time at his disposal.

He had just arrived at that conclusion when Delaven, high-hearted with
hope, saw only the stars over his head as he paced the veranda, and
turning the corner stumbled on Masterson.

There was an exclamation, some words of apology, and involuntarily
Masterson stepped backward into the stream of light from the open
window, and Monroe, looking around, read the whole situation at a
glance. Masterson still suspected him, and was listening! Monroe
frankly laughed and made a little sound, the mere whisper of a
whistle, as he met Masterson's baffled look with one of cool mockery;
it was nonchalant to the verge of insolence, and enraged the
Southerner, strong in his convictions of right, as a blow could not
have done. For a blow a man could strike back, but this mockery!

Delaven walked on, unconscious of the suppressed feeling between the
two. Masterson was handicapped by the fact that he dared not again
mention his suspicions to the McVeigh family, and he strode down the
steps to the law