ishedtoforgetthem.’
“Whataneyeyouhave!”hecried,withasighofrelief.‘Itisjustasyousay.Butwewon’ttalkofit.Ofallghoststheghostsofouroldloversaretheworst.Comeintothebilliard-roomandhaveaquietcigar.’
“Fromthatday,amidallhiscordiality,therewasalwaysatouchofsuspicioninMr.Trevor’smannertowardsme.Evenhissonremarkedit.‘You’vegiventhegovernorsuchaturn,’saidhe,‘thathe’llneverbesureagainofwhatyouknowandwhatyoudon’tknow.’Hedidnotmeantoshowit,Iamsure,butitwassostronglyinhismindthatitpeepedoutateveryaction.AtlastIbecamesoconvincedthatIwascausinghimuneasinessthatIdrewmyvisittoaclose.Ontheveryday,however,beforeIleft,anincidentoccurredwhichprovedinthesequeltobeofimportance.
“Weweresittingoutuponthelawnongardenchairs,thethreeofus,baskinginthesunandadmiringtheviewacrosstheBroads,whenamaidcameouttosaythattherewasamanatthedoorwhowantedtoseeMr.Trevor.
“‘Whatishisname?’askedmyhost.
“‘Hewouldnotgiveany.’
“‘Whatdoeshewant,then?’
“‘Hesaysthatyouknowhim,andthatheonlywantsamoment’sconversation.’
“‘Showhimroundhere.’Aninstantafterwardsthereappearedalittlewizenedfellowwithacringingmannerandashamblingstyleofwalking.Heworeanopenjacket,withasplotchoftaronthesleeve,ared-and-blackcheckshirt,dungareetrousers,andheavybootsbadlyworn.Hisfacewasthinandbrownandcrafty,withaperpetualsmileuponit,whichshowedanirregularlineofyellowteeth,andhiscrinkledhandswerehalfclosedinawaythatisdistinctiveofsailors.AshecameslouchingacrossthelawnIheardMr.Trevormakeasortofhiccoughingnoiseinhisthroat,andjumpingoutofhischair,heranintothehouse.Hewasbackinamoment,andIsmeltastrongreekofbrandyashepassedme.
“‘Well,myman,’saidhe,‘whatcanIdoforyou?’
“Thesailorstoodlookingathimwithpuckeredeyes,andwiththesameloose-lippedsmileuponhisface.
“‘Youdon’tknowme?’heasked.
“‘Why,dearme,itissurelyHudson,’saidMr.Trevorinatoneofsurprise.
“‘Hudsonitis,sir,’saidtheseaman.‘Why,it’sthirtyyearandmoresinceIsawyoulast.Hereyouareinyourhouse,andmestillpickingmysaltmeatoutoftheharnesscask.’
“‘Tut,youwillfindthatIhavenotforgottenoldtimes,’criedMr.Trevor,and,walkingtowardsthesailor,hesaidsomethinginalowvoice.‘Gointothekitchen,’hecontinuedoutloud,‘andyouwillgetfoodanddrink.IhavenodoubtthatIshallfindyouasituation.’
“‘Thankyou,sir,’saidtheseaman,touchinghisforelock.‘I’mjustoffatwo-yearerinaneight-knottramp,short-handedatthat,andIwantsarest.IthoughtI’dgetiteitherwithMr.Beddoesorwithyou.’
“‘Ah!’criedTrevor.‘YouknowwhereMr.Beddoesis?’
“‘Blessyou,sir,Iknowwhereallmyoldfriendsare,’saidthefellowwithasinistersmile,andheslouchedoffafterthemaidtothekitchen.Mr.Trevormumbledsomethingtousabouthavingbeenshipmatewiththemanwhenhewasgoingbacktothediggings,andthen,leavingusonthelawn,hewentindoors.Anhourlater,whenweenteredthehouse,wefoundhimstretcheddeaddrunkuponthedining-roomsofa.Thewholeincidentleftamostuglyimpressionuponmymind,andIwasnotsorrynextdaytoleaveDonnithorpebehindme,forIfeltthatmypresencemustbeasourceofembarrassmenttomyfriend.
“Allthisoccurredduringthefirstmonthofthelongvacation.IwentuptomyLondonrooms,whereIspentsevenweeksworkingoutafewexperimentsinorganicchemistry.Oneday,however,whentheautumnwasfaradvancedandthevacationdrawingtoaclose,IreceivedatelegramfrommyfriendimploringmetoreturntoDonnithorpe,andsayingthathewasingreatneedofmyadviceandassistance.OfcourseIdroppedeverythingandsetoutfortheNorthoncemore.
“Hemetmewiththedog-cartatthestation,andIsawataglancethatthelasttwomonthshadbeenverytryingonesfor