DELIBERATION OF MR. DUNKIN
Alonzo Taft had seen it. Unlike the others, he said nothing to his neighbours. He questioned himself only. To him that smile meant familiarity, good-fellowship, and a thorough mutual understanding. He looked into the dark, dancing eyes of Miss Callena, and in spite of his statement of a few days ago that he had been located too long to "lif' anchor," he felt a pang at his heart that was like the first stab of jealousy. So he was deeply interested that evening when Maria, his fellow-servant, told him that Mr. Dunkin was waiting to see him. He hurried through with his work, even leaving a speck of lint on the major's coat, an unprecedented thing, and hastened down to his guest.
A look of great seriousness and determination was fixed upon the features of the "prosp'ous bachelor" as his host made his appearance and invited him up to his room.
Mr. Dunkin was well seated and had his pipe going before he began: "Mistah Taf', I allus has 'lowed dat you was a sensible young man an' a pu'son of mo' dan o'dina'y intel'gence."
"You flattah me, Mistah Dunkin, you flattah me, suh."
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