ERICSON. His worst enemy.
STRANGER. And did his worst enemy also start the fire?
ERICSON. That's beyond me! Only Anderson, the mason, knows that.
STRANGER. Who is he?
ERICSON. The oldest one in the place—some kind of relative of Mrs. Westerlund—knows all the secrets of the house—but he and the dyer have got some secrets together, so he won't tell anything.
STRANGER. And the lady—my sister-in-law—who is she?
ERICSON. Well—she was in the house as governess when the first wife cleared out.
STRANGER. What sort of character has she got?
ERICSON. Hm! Character? I don't quite know what that is. Do you mean trade? The old assessment blanks used to call for your name and "character"—but that meant occupation instead of character.
STRANGER. I mean her temper.