"No," she answered, resentfully, "he is not."

"Um-hm. What's his business?"

"He is connected with a produce exchange house, I believe."

"One of the firm?"

"I don't know. In New York we are not as well posted, or as curious,
concerning our friends' private affairs as your townspeople seem to be."

"I guess that's so. I imagine New Yorkers are too busy gettin' it
themselves to bother whether their neighbors have got it or not. Well,"
he went on, rising, "I guess I've kept you young folks from your work
or--or play, or whatever you was going to do, long enough for this once.
I think I'll go out for a spell. I've got an errand or two I want to do.
What time do you have dinner?"

"We lunch at half past one," answered Caroline.

"We dine at seven."

"Oh, yes, yes! I keep forgettin' that supper's dinner. Well, I presume
likely I'll be back for luncheon. If I ain't, don't wait for me. I'll be
home afore supper--there I go again!--afore dinner, anyhow. Good-by."

Five minutes later he was at the street corner, inquiring of a policeman
"the handiest way to get to Pine Street." Following the directions
given, he boarded a train at the nearest subway station, emerged at Wall