"That isn't surprising--he's been dead something over one hundred and seventy years. Did he confide where he's buried?"
"He's buried with the Duvals in the Cemetery, here."
"He is!" Croyden exclaimed. "Humph! one more circumstance to prove the letter speaks the truth. Everything but the thing itself. We find his will, probated with Marmaduke Duval as executor, we even discover a notice of his death in the _Gazette_, and now, finally, you find his body--or the place of its interment! But, hang it all! what is really worth while, we can't find."
"Come into the house--I'll give you something to soothe your feelings temporarily," said Miss Carrington.
They encountered Miss Erskine just coming from the library on her way to the door.
"My dear Davila, so glad to see you!" she exclaimed. "And Mr. Croyden, we thought you had deserted us, and just when we're trying to make you feel at home. So glad to welcome you back!" holding out her fat hand.
"I'm delighted to be back," said Croyden. "The Carringtons seemed genuinely glad to see me--and, now, if I may include you, I'm quite content to return," and he shook her hand, as though he meant it.
"Of course you may believe it," with an inane giggle. "I'm going to bring my art class over to Clarendon to revel in your treasures, some day, soon. You'll be at home to them, won't you, dear Mr. Croyden?"
"Surely! I shall take pleasure in being at home," Croyden replied, soberly.
Then Macloud, who was talking with the Captain, was called over and presented, that being, Miss Carrington thought, the quickest method of getting rid of her. The evident intention to remain until he was presented, being made entirely obvious by Miss Erskine, who, after she had bubbled a bit more, departed.
"What is her name, I didn't catch it?--and" (observing smiles on Croyden and Miss Carrington's faces) "what is she?"
"I think father can explain, in more appropriate language!" Miss Carrington laughed.
"She's the most intolerable nuisance and greatest fool in Hampton!" Captain Carrington exploded.
"A red flag to a bull isn't in it with Miss Erskine and father," Miss Carrington observed.
"But I hide it pretty well--while she's here," he protested.
"If she's not here too long--and you can get away, in time."