"Sincere? Of course he is. So is a wasp when it stings you."
She laughed in her dignified way, her good humor having suddenly returned; and he looked up with a smile, pleased with himself. They sat for a time, talking of other matters, and he went to bed humming the defineless tune of self-satisfaction. But late in the night Mrs. McElwin awoke and found him standing at the window, listening.
"What is it, dear?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"Then why are you standing there?"
"I thought I heard something."
"In the house?" she asked, rising up with sudden alarm.
"No. Over in town, or rather over by the railroad track. I noticed some tramp-fires along there."
"Oh, well, don't worry. The watchman will look after them."
"Hush," he said, leaning from the window. "There it is again."