In a little while he would have to give his decision as to whether the little Winslow house was to continue to be occupied by Barbara and her mother, or whether it was to be, as it had been for years, closed and shuttered tight.
He had permitted them to occupy it for that month, on the spur of the moment, as the result of a promise made upon impulse, a characteristic Jed Winslow impulse.

Now, however, he must decide in cold blood whether or not it should be theirs for another eleven months at least.
In his conversation with Captain Sam, the conversation which took place immediately after the Armstrongs came, he had stoutly maintained that the latter would not wish to stay longer than the month, that his own proximity as landlord and neighbor would be unbearable longer than that period.

But if the widow found it so she had so far shown no evidence of her disgust.

Apparently that means of breaking off the relationship could not be relied upon.
Of course he did not know whether or not she wished to remain, but, if she did, did he wish her to do so?
There was nothing personal in the matter; it was merely the question as to whether his prejudice of years against renting that house to any one was to rule or be overthrown.

If she asked him for his decision what should he say?
At night, when he went to bed, his mind was made up.