Abner. Well, how long since?
Ariel. Quite a long time since.
Abner. Is that so? Queer I never heard of him before. Where did you meet him?
Ariel. At a friend’s in New Haven while Mr. Gordon was at Yale.
Nat. If you knew Mr. Gordon at Yale perhaps you know how he happened to leave college?
Ariel. Yes, I know. He left under circumstances which didn’t look favorable to him but none of his friends believed he was at all to blame, any more than I believe it now.
Hep. Well, do tell!
Nat. Mr. Gordon always seems to be found under circumstances which look anything but favorable to himself.
Abner. How do you happen to know this fellow, Nat?
Nat. He is the son of Howland Gordon, the man I sail for. After he was expelled from Yale he went to work for his father. He is just leaving his father under circumstances which don’t look favorable.