“I am so glad you are acquitted, Luke,” she began effusively.  “I hope, Mrs. Larkin, you won’t take offense at what I did.  I did what I thought to be my duty, though with a bleeding heart.  No one is more rejoiced at dear Luke’s vindication.”

“Miss Sprague,” said she, “if you think you did your duty, let the consciousness of that sustain you.  I do not care to receive any visits from you hereafter.”

“How cruel and unfeeling you are, Mrs. Larkin,” said the spinster, putting her handkerchief to her eyes.

Mrs. Larkin did not reply.

Miss Sprague found herself so coldly treated in the village that she shortly left Groveton on a prolonged visit to some relatives in a neighboring town.  It is to be feared that the consciousness of having done her duty did not wholly console her.  What she regretted most, however, was the loss of the reward which she had hoped to receive from the bank.

CHAPTER XV

THE LARKINS ARE IN LUCK

Luke and his mother, accompanied by Roland Reed, took their way from the court-room to the widow’s modest cottage.

“You may take the tin box, Luke,” said the stranger, “if you are not afraid to keep in your charge what has given you so much trouble.”

“All’s well that ends well!” said Luke.

“Yes; I don’t think it will occasion you any further anxiety.”

Roland Reed walked in advance with Mrs. Larkin, leaving Luke to follow.

“What sort of a man is this Mr. Duncan?” he asked abruptly.

“Squire Duncan?”

“Yes, if that is his title.”

“He is, upon the whole, our foremost citizen,” answered the widow, after a slight hesitation.

“Is he popular?”

“I can hardly say that.”

“He is president of the bank, is he not?”

“Yes.”

“How long has he lived in Groveton?”

“Nearly twenty years.”

“Was he born in this neighborhood?”

“I think he came from the West.”

“Does he say from what part of the western country?”

“He says very little about his past life.”

Roland Reed smiled significantly.

“Perhaps he has his reasons,” he said meditatively.

“Is he thought to be rich?” he asked, after a pause.

“Yes, but how rich no one knows.  He is taxed for his house and grounds, but he may have a good deal of property besides.  It is generally thought he has.”

“He does not appear to be friendly toward your son.”

“No,” answered Mrs. Larkin, with a trace of indignation, “though I am sure he has no cause to dislike him.  He seemed convinced that Luke had come by your tin box dishonestly.”

“It seemed to me that he was prejudiced against Luke.  How do you account for it?”

“Perhaps his son, Randolph, has influenced him.”

“So he has a son—­how old?”