"The fall comes earlier than it used to," she remarked, drawing a light crocheted shawl about her shoulders. "Why, I remember when it used to be summer up to the middle of November. I was talking to Judge Bassett about it yesterday, and he said he certainly thought the seasons had changed since he was a boy."
"I don't reckon your father has much opinion of fertilisers," broke in the general, reverting to his pleasant patronage.
Nicholas answered before Eugenia could interpose. "No, sir, he doesn't believe in them much," he replied.
"Well, you tell him it's lime he needs," continued the general. "The most successful peanut grower I ever knew put about a thousand pounds of lime to an acre, and he cleared—"
"Have you seen Dudley Webb?" asked Eugenia, shaking her head at the general's frown.
"For an hour this morning. He was in Tom Bassett's office. He told some good stories."
Miss Chris heaved a reminiscent sigh.
"That's poor Julius Webb all over again," she said. "He could keep a dinner table laughing for two hours and fight a duel at daybreak. I remember at his own wedding, when they drank his health, he told such a funny story that old Judge Blitherstone, who was upwards of eighty, had to have cold bandages put to his head."
The general took his pipe from his mouth. "Dudley's a fine young fellow," he said. "I saw him yesterday when I went to the post-office. They tell me he's making a name for himself in Richmond."
Eugenia laughed lightly.