nder. He had the
emotions of a boy caught in a foray on the preserve closet. "Good
morning," he said, and was shocked by the startled suspicion of his own
voice. He carried out his original intention of shaking hands with
Mrs. Hornblower, though without his customary grace of manner, and then
turned to go through the same ceremony with Persis, but her tightly
folded arms gave little encouragement to this design. He compromised
by taking a chair near her and saying pleasantly, "You're an early
arrival."

"I calculated you'd be here as soon as you got done your breakfast,"
Persis replied, and left him to interpret the ambiguous remark as he
pleased.

Justin's career had not been of a sort to cultivate undue
sensitiveness. A moment sufficed to make him master of himself. "I
came out to discuss a little business proposition with Mr. Hornblower,"
he explained carelessly. "But I don't want to interfere with the
enjoyment of you ladies. Some other time--"

"Don't mind me," interposed Persis. "Mis' Hornblower and I haven't
anything special to talk about. We're interested in your business
proposition, both of us."

"I don't know as I care to hear it," interrupted Mr. Hornblower,
speaking with a certain wildness, an indication that he had almost
reached the limit of resistance. His voice was shrill and unnatural.
"All I want is to be left in peace on the farm where my father lived
and died before me."

"Robert," said the submissive Mrs. Hornblower witheringly, "I'd be
ashamed to talk as if I'd been born an oyster instead of a man."

"Of course, Mr. Hornblower," Ware began soothingly, "I should be very
unwilling to over-persuade you. If my proposition does not commend
itself to your own good judgment, you are perfectly justified in
turning it down. Or if you are not in the mood for talking business
to-day, some other time--"

"There's no time like the present," said Persis Dale. "And if you
don't like what he's got to offer, you can say no, Mr. Hornblower, and
stick to it. Your _no_ is as good as his _yes_, I'm sure, when it's
your business that's being talked of."

She had suddenly become the dominant figure in the room. Mrs.
Hornblower glanced at her uncertainly. The promoter smiled
propitiatingly. The old man shuffled toward her with an evident hope
that through proximity he might profit by her sturdy strength.

"I don't mind listening, Persis," he said tremulously. "I'm a
reasonable man. What I