But Captain Carroll was in no hurry, it seemed, and, moreover, gave the impression that if he had been about to catch a railroad train to keep an important business engagement, he would not have dreamed of thrusting himself in before the milkman with his milk all delivered.  He, moreover, gave the impression that he considered the milkman a polished gentleman for his handsome offer, and all this without saying so much.  Captain Carroll seated himself, and completed the impression by tendering everybody cigars.  Then the “Tonsorial Parlor” and its patrons waiting for a Sunday-morning shave became a truly genteel function.  Willy Eddy, who was dreamily imaginative, and read the Sunday papers when his Minna gave him a chance and did not chide him for the waste of money, remembered things he had read about the swagger New York clubs.  He smoked away and made-believe he was a clubman, and enjoyed himself artlessly.  The sun got farther around and the south window was a sheet of burning radiance.  It became rather too warm, and on Carroll making a motion to move his chair into the shade, every other man moved into the sunshine, and sat sweltering and smoking in a fatuous vainglory.  The canary bird hopped faster and faster.  The gold-fishes swam with a larger school of bright reflections.  A bumblebee flew in the open window and buzzed dangerously near the hero’s head.  Willy Eddy rose and, ostentatiously, at his own risk, drove the intruder away, and was gratefully thanked.  Truly hero-worship, while it is often foolish and fool-making, is not the worst sentiment of mankind.  When the great man made a move to order his coachman to take the wonderful rig away, and drive, because the horses were restive and needed exercise, and he himself—­the delicate humor of the thing—­also needed exercise and would walk home, Amidon sped in his service as he had never sped in the service of the long-suffering wife, at that moment struggling painfully with the Sunday dinner, and bringing wood from the shed to replenish the fire.

Carroll did not need to lead up to his mining and other interests.  The subject was broached at once by the others.  The postmaster opened it.  He spoke with less humility than the others, as being more on a footing of equality.

“Well, captain, heard lately from the Boniflora?” he asked, knowingly.  And Carroll replied that he had received a letter from the manager the night before which gave most encouraging information concerning the prospects.

“Anything of the United Fuel?” continued the postmaster.

“Large block just sold, at an advance of six and three-eighths,” replied Carroll, blowing the smoke from his mouth.  Carroll inspired confidence by the very quietness and lack of enthusiasm with which he spoke of his enterprises.  All his listeners thought privately that he was in no way anxious to sell his stock, after all.  Perhaps, moreover, he did not intend to sell any but large blocks.  Little Willy Eddy ventured to ask for information on the latter point.