"I should be loath to have Monsieur Jean Hugon for my enemy," said the
Colonel gravely.

Haward laughed. "I was told at Williamsburgh that a party of traders go to
the Southern Indians to-morrow, and he with them. Perhaps a month or two
of the woods will work a cure."

He fell to playing again, a quiet, plaintive air. When it was ended, he
rose and went over to the fire to keep his guest company; but finding him
in a mood for silence, presently fell silent himself, and took to viewing
structures of his own building in the red hollows between the logs. This
mutual taciturnity lasted until the announcement of supper, and was
relapsed into at intervals during the meal; but when they had returned to
the drawing-room the two talked until it was late, and the fire had sunken
to ash and embers. Before they parted for the night it was agreed that
the master of Westover should remain with the master of Fair View for a
day or so, at the end of which time the latter gentleman would accompany
the former to Westover for a visit of indefinite length.




CHAPTER XVI

AUDREY AND EVELYN


Hugon went a-trading to the Southern Indians, but had lately returned to
his lair at the crossroads ordinary, when, upon a sunny September morning,