thought as he mounted the stairs to his room. The spell of the little graveyard on the knoll and of that other more distant one was still with him, and remained until, having got his hat and cane, he passed through the open gate and turned townward on the red clay road. Major Cass was seated in his cushioned[141] arm-chair with his feet on his desk and a sheepskin-covered book spread open on his knees when Winthrop obeyed the invitation to enter. [141] “Ah, Mr. Winthrop, sir, good-morning,” said the Major, as he tossed the book on to the desk and climbed to his feet. “Your rest has done you good, sir; I can see that. Feeling more yourself to-day, eh?” “Quite well, thanks,” answered Winthrop, accepting the arm-chair which his host pushed toward him. “I thought I’d come down and hear the verdict and attend to the matter of the rental.” “Yes, yes,” said the Major. “Very kind of you, sir.” He limped to a cupboard in one corner and returned with a jug and two not overly clean glasses, which he set on the desk, brushing aside a litter of papers and books. “You will join me, Mr. Winthrop, in a little liquor, sir, I trust?” “A very little, then,” answered Winthrop. “I’m still under doctor’s orders, you know.” [142] [142] “As little as you like,” rejoined the Major, courteously, “but we must drink to the success of our conspiracy, sir. The matter is all arranged. Miss India was—ah—surprisingly complacent, sir.” The Major handed the glass to Winthrop with a bow. “Your very good health, sir!” During the subsequent talk, in which the Major explained the terms of the bargain as Winthrop had already learned them from Holly, the visitor was able to look about him. The room was small and square save for the projecting fire-place at one side. A window on the front overlooked the street which led to Waynewood, while through another on the side of the building Winthrop could see the court-house[143] behind its border of oaks, the stores across the square and, peering from behind the court-house, the end of the Palmetto House with its long gallery. It was Saturday, and the town looked quite busy. Ox-carts, farm wagons drawn by mules, and broken-down buggies crawled or jogged past the
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