They talked about the Sterne affair one afternoon. Madeline approached the subject with great caution, and carefully felt her way at every step. When Micah became diffident she flattered him a little, and when he obtruded his loyalty to the family she encouraged him.
She made him feel also that she was one of the family, and that he would be perfectly justified and perfectly safe in confiding anything to her. She talked to him about her early life, about the scenery and customs of America, and so hypnotised him with her confidence and her sweet graciousness that the old man talked more freely than he knew.
"Of course you will not repeat what I have told you, Micah?" she said, with her most winning smile.
"Of course not, Miss," Micah said, stoutly. "I wouldn't repeat it for the world."
"It's nice to have confidence in people, don't you think so?" she questioned, demurely.
"It is, Miss; it's a terrible comfort."
"Some people repeat everything they hear. But you and I can trust each other, eh, Micah?"
"I could trust you with uncounted gold, Miss," and Micah stuck his fork into the ground, with an energy that was meant to give emphasis to his assertion.
For awhile they talked about St. Gaved folks in general, but gradually Madeline led the conversation round to Rufus Sterne and the quarrel outside the Lodge gates.