“And it has a large garden in front of it, with trees and vines and roses and a marble Cupid dancing in a bed of box?”
The Major shook his head regretfully.
“Well, Major, the place I’ve taken a fancy to boasts of just those attractions. Don’t you think that perhaps we could somehow arrange it so that I could stay there?”
“Do you mean, sir, that you would be willing to remain here as—as a paying guest?” asked the Major, eagerly.
Winthrop shrugged his shoulders.
“Why not? If the ladies are agreeable. At first sight there may be something a trifle anomalous in the idea of the owner of a property who has journeyed several hundred miles to occupy it petitioning for the privilege of being allowed to remain as a boarder, but, of course, I have the limitations of the Northerner and doubtless fail to get the correct point of view.”
But Winthrop’s irony was quite lost on the Major.
“My dear sir, you have taken a great load from my mind,” exclaimed the latter. “I had hoped that the difficulty might be surmounted in just the way you propose, but somehow I gathered after meeting you that you—ah—resented the presence of the ladies.”
“Nonsense!” said Winthrop, a trifle impatiently. “Miss Wayne and her niece are quite welcome to remain here as long as they like. I was, however, naturally surprised to find anyone in possession. By all means let us renew the rental agreement. Meanwhile, if the ladies are agreeable, I will remain here and pay board and room-rent. I dare say my visit will not cover more than three months. And I will try to be as little trouble as possible.”
“Then the matter is settled,” answered the Major, with a gratified smile. “Unless——” He paused.