"Not at that time. Since. He came from Swainson, did he not?"

"I believe so, sir. Afy never would say much about him. We did not agree
upon the point. I said a person of his rank would do her no good; and
Afy flew out when I spoke against him."

Mr. Carlyle caught her up. "His rank. What was his rank?"

"Afy bragged of his being next door to a lord; and he looked like it. I
only saw him once; I had gone home early, and there sat him and Afy. His
white hands were all glittering with rings, and his shirt was finished
off with shining stones where the buttons ought to be."

"Have you seen him since?"

"Never since, never but once; and I don't think I should know him if I
did see him. He got up, sir, as soon as I went into the parlor, shook
hands with Afy, and left. A fine, upright man he was, nearly as tall as
you, sir, but very slim. Those soldiers always carry themselves well."

"How do you know he was a soldier?" quickly rejoined Mr. Carlyle.

"Afy told me so. 'The Captain' she used to call him; but she said he was
not a captain yet awhile--the next grade to it, a--a----"

"Lieutenant?" suggested Mr. Carlyle.

"Yes, sir, that was it--Lieutenant Thorn."

"Joyce," said Mr. Carlyle, "has it never struck you that Afy is more