"I indorse all that, wife," said Adin Dunham heartily. "He's always cheerful and willin'—always ready to do chores and give up his own pleasure. I remember last winter he'd set his heart on going with a skatin' party, but when I was taken sick, he stayed at home and tended me, without a word of complaint. He couldn't have done no more if he'd been a son instead of a nephew." "Just so, wife! Just so! He's a likely boy, and if he keeps on as he's begun he's sure to do well." "He deserves to prosper, and I hope he will. I wish we could do more for him." "So do I, but a carpenter that gets work only about half the time can't do what he'd like to." Just then Dean came into the house—a broad-shouldered, strongly built boy, with a frank, open countenance and red cheeks. "Dean," said his uncle, "won't you go over to neighbor Gould, and ask if he will lend his horse and buggy for the day? I'm goin' over to Rockmount." "Going to Rockmount?" repeated Dean eagerly. "Will you take me, uncle?" "Not to-day, Dean. It's a long ride, and it'll be easier on the horse to carry one than two." Dean looked disappointed. A ride to Rockmount, which was a considerably larger place than Waterford, would have been to him a very agreeable recreation, but he was not a boy to complain or tease when a favor had been refused. So he indulged in no remonstrance, but went over to Mr. Gould's dwelling, only twenty rods away, and preferred the request. "Certainly," said Mr. Gould pleasantly. "So your uncle has business in Rockmount, has he?" "Yes sir, I suppose so, but he didn't tell me what it is." "Well, tell him not to over drive the Captain." (This was the rather peculiar name of Mr. Gould's horse.) "I don't think there's any danger," said Dean smiling, for he knew that Adin Dunham was one of the most deliberate of men, and permitted a horse to select his own pace. CHAPTER II. SQUIRE RENWICK BATES. Adin Dunham got into the buggy, took the reins from Dean, and drove away. The pretentious house of Squire Bates stood a little way back from the road a quarter of a mile further on. The lawyer stood in front of his gate. He smiled as Adin Dunham drove by. "Well, Dunham," he said, "so you are on your way to Rockmount?" "Yes, squire." "And bound on a pleasant errand, too," continued Bates, with a second smile. "Yes, squire. I can't believe it hardly. It's a new experience for me. I never thought I should be worth a thousand dollars." "Yes, it's quite a sum. What do you propose to do with it?" "I may pay up the mortgage on my place." "But suppose I don't want to receive it?" "But why wouldn't you want to receive it?" "Oh, it's paying me fairish interest, and I should have to look up another investment." "But you could do that better than I."