This offer of mine happens to be pretty nearly a disinterested one, and," with one of his dry smiles, "all my offers are not that kind, as you ought to know.Will you say yes now? Or do you want till to-morrow to think it over?"The news concerning Mother had upset me greatly, but my common-sense was not all gone.That there was something behind his offer I believed, but, even if there were not--if it was disinterested and made simply because my unearthing of the Bay Shore "cat" had caught his fancy--I did not consider for a moment accepting it.
Not if Mother was like other women, well and strong, would I have accepted it.In Denboro I was Roscoe Paine, and my life story was my own secret.In New York how long would it be before that secret and my real name were known, and all the old disgrace and scandal resurrected?
"What do you say?" asked Colton, again."Want more time to think about it, do you?"I shook my head."No," I answered."I have had time enough.I am obliged for the offer and I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot accept."I expected him to express impatience or, perhaps, anger; at least to ask my reasons for declining.But his only utterance was a "Humph!" For a moment he regarded me keenly.Then he said:
"Haven't got the answer yet, have I? All right.Well," briskly, "when are you and I going on that shooting trip?""There is no shooting at present," I answered, as soon as I could adjust my mind to this new switch in the conversation.
"That so? Any fishing?"
"I believe the squiteague are running outside.I heard they were.""What? Squit--which?"
"Squiteague.Weakfish some people call them.""They are pretty fair sport, aren't they?""Yes, fair.Nothing like bluefish, however.""All right.What is the matter with our going squint--squint--something or othering one of these days? Will you go? Or are you as pig-headed about that as you are about other things?"I laughed."Not quite," I said."I should be glad of your company, Mr.Colton.""Next Saturday suit you?"
"Yes.After bank hours."
"All right.I'll look after the boat.You provide the bait and tackle.That's fair, isn't it? Right.Be on hand at my dock at one o'clock.Morning."He walked off.Neither of us had thought of the tide--he, probably, not realizing that high water was an important factor, and I being too much agitated by what he had said about Mother, and the suddenness with which the fishing trip was planned, to think calmly of anything.
That week was a strange one to me, and the first of many strange ones.My manner of life was changing, although I did not realize it and although the change came through no effort of my own.Our house, which had been so long almost a hermitage, if a home containing four persons might be called that, was gradually becoming a social center.Matilda Dean had called once a week regularly for some time and this particular week Captain Jed came with her.Captain Elisha Warren and his cousin and housekeeper, Miss Abbie Baker, drove down for a half-hour's stay.George Taylor and Nellie spent an evening with us.I feared the unaccustomed rush of company might have a bad effect upon Mother, but she seemed actually the better for it.She professed to believe that Denboro was awakening to the fact of my merits as a man and a citizen.
"They are finding you out at last, Boy," she said.I laughed at her.I knew better.It was because of my position in the bank that these people came.I was making good there, apparently, and the surprise at this caused Captain Warren and the rest to take a new, and no doubt transitory interest in me.
And I thought I knew Captain Jed's reason for coming.An interview between us gave me the inkling.Matilda was in Mother's room and Dean and I were together in the dining-room.
"Ros," said the captain, suddenly, "you ain't backin' water, are you?""Backing water? What do you mean by that?""In this Lane business.You ain't cal'latin' to sell out to Colton, after all?""Well, hardly.Why do you say that?"
"Nothin', maybe.But they tell me you're kind of thick with the R'yal family lately.Beriah Holt says he see you and the Colton girl come out of the woods back of his place one afternoon a spell ago.She was on horseback and you was walkin', but Beriah says you and she was mighty friendly."I might have expected this.In Denboro one does few things unnoticed.
"She had lost her way in the woods and I helped her to find the road home," I said, "that was all.""Hum! You helped her to find the road the night of the strawberry festival, too, didn't you?""How in the world did you find that out?""Oh, it just sort of drifted around.I've got pretty big ears--maybe you've noticed 'em--and they gen'rally catch some of what's blowin' past.There was a coachman mixed up in that night's work and he talked some, I shouldn't wonder; most of his kind do.""Well, what of it?" I asked, sharply."I helped her as I would your daughter if she had been caught alone in a storm like that.Ishould have been ashamed not to."
"Sartin! Needn't get mad about it.What's this about your takin'
his Majesty off fishin' next Saturday?"
All of my personal affairs seemed to be common property.I was losing my temper in spite of my recent good resolutions.
"Look here, Captain Dean," I said, "I have a right to take any one fishing, if I choose.Mr.Colton asked me to do it and I saw no reason for saying no.""Funny he should ask you.He ain't asked anybody else in town.""I don't know that and I don't care.I shall do as I please.Ihave no grievance against the Coltons.I shall not sell them my land, but I reserve the right to meet them--yes, and to associate with them--if I choose.You and your friends may as well understand that, Captain.""There! there! don't get huffy.I ain't got the right to say what your rights are, Ros.And I don't think for a minute you'd back water on the Lane business a-purpose.But I do think you're takin'
