"Oh, well, your mother, then, or any one who keeps the gate."
"Mother isn't at home either, sir; I am keeping the gate."
The gentleman looked at her in surprise.
"You!" he exclaimed. "What made these fellows stop here?"
"They broke their wagon, sir."
"How did they happen to do that?"
"The horse ran into the gate, sir."
"Was the gate shut?"
"Yes, sir."
"You don't usually shut the gate nights?"