will take themselves out of the house
directly after breakfast. Nevertheless--will you believe it?--ten days
passed and not a word was said about payment. So one morning I stopped
him in the hall, as though for a pleasant talk. However, I was careful
to introduce the point, by means of an anecdote I told him, that guests
here were expected to pay by the week. Of course I supposed that the
hint would be sufficient."

"But it wasn't, alas?"

"On the contrary, ten days again passed, and you might suppose there was
no such thing as money in all this world. Then I resolved to approach
him directly. I knocked on his door, and when he opened it, I told him
plainly and in so many words that I would be very much gratified if he
would let me have a check whenever convenient, as unfortunately I had
heavy bills due that must be met. I was very much mortified, Sharlee! As
I stood there facing that young man, dunning him like a grocer's clerk,
it flashed into my mind to wonder what your great-grandfather, the
Governor, would think if he could have looked down and seen me. For as
you know, my dear, though I doubt if you altogether realize it at all
times, since our young people of to-day, I regret to have to say
it--though of course I do except you from this criticism--"

By gentle interruption and deft transition, Sharlee once more wafted the
conversation back to the subject in hand.

"And when you went so far as to tell him this, how did he take it?"

"He took it admirably. He told me that I need feel no concern about the
matter; that while out of funds for the moment, doubtless he would be in
funds again shortly. His manner was dignified, calm, unabashed--"

"But it didn't blossom, as we might say, in money?"

"As to that--no. What are you to do, Sharlee? I feel sure the man is not
dishonest,--in fact he has a singularly honest face, transparently
so,--but he is only somehow queer. He appears an engrossed,
absent-minded young man--what is the word I want?--an eccentric. That is
what he is, an engrossed young eccentric."

Sharlee leaned against the bureau and looked at her aunt thoughtfully.
"Do you gather, Aunt Jennie, that he's a gentleman?"

Mrs. Paynter threw out her hands helplessly. "What does the term mean
nowadays? The race of gentlemen, as the class existed in my day, seems
to be disappearing from the face of the earth. We see occasional
survivals of the old order, like Gardiner West or the young Byrd men,
but as