"You know you don't want him here," said Claude. "His salary can not be large, and he must spend the greater part of it on clothes—and oil."
"Is it possible," she asked, "that you look upon that young man as a rival?"
"By no means," he replied; "such persons never marry. They only prevent other people from marrying anybody. Therefore it is that I remember what sort of a boatman I am."
"My dear," said Mr. Fox, when he and his wife had retired to their room, "after hearing what that Austrian has to say of the American people, I almost revere Mr. Locker."
"I heard some of his remarks," she said, "and I imagined they would have an effect of that kind upon you."
When the Broadstone surrey came from the train the next morning it brought a gentleman.
"What!" exclaimed Mrs. Fox, when from the other side of the lawn she saw him alight. "Another young man with a valise! It seems to me that this is an overdose!"
"Overdoses," remarked Mr. Fox, "are often less dangerous than just enough poison."
Mrs. Easterfield received this visitor at the door. She had been waiting for him, and did not wish him to meet anybody when she was not present. After offering his respectful salutations, Mr. Hemphill, Mr. Easterfield's secretary in the central office of the D. and J., delivered without delay a package of which he was the bearer, and apologized for his valise, stating that Mr. Easterfield had told him he must spend the night at Broadstone.
"Most assuredly you would do that," said she, and to herself she added, "If I want you longer I will let you know."