It was now four days since John's sentence had been pronounced, and not to be allowed to swim in the heat of a hot September added to the severity of the penalty.

The heat as usual made tempers hot and circumstances variously disturbed the household of Grey Pine.

Politics vexed and business troubled the master.

Of the one he could not talk to his wife--of the other he would not at present, hoping for better business conditions, and feeling that politics and business were now too nearly related to keep them apart.

Ann, his wife, thought him depressed--a rare mood for him.