"No, I--well, I tried to find it; I hunted for it high and low; but I haven't been able to put my hands on it. But I've had so much trouble of one kind and another, that I clean forgot it. I'm glad you mentioned it; I'll try to find it again." "Well, as a lawyer," said Mr. Tidwell, somewhat significantly--or so it seemed to Silas--"I don't charge you a cent for telling you that your case wouldn't stand a minnit." "My case--my case! What case? I have no case. Why, I don't know what you are talking about." He shook his head and waved his hand nervously. "Oh, I remember now; your case was purely hypothetical," said Mr. Tidwell. "Well, your _Blackwood_ was wrong about it." "That's what I thought," Silas assented with a grunt; and with that, he turned abruptly away, and went in the direction of his house. "I'll tell you what's the fact," remarked Mr. Sanders, as he watched the shabby and shrunken figure retreat; "I'm about to change my mind about Silas. I used to think he was mean all through; but he's got a nice warm place in his heart for that son of his'n. I declare I feel right sorry for the man." Before Cephas went away, he was not too busy learning the lessons Mr. Sanders had set for him to forget to hunt up Nan Dorrington and tell her the wonderful news; to-wit, that he was about to go on a journey, and that while he was gone he would most likely see Gabriel. "Well," said Nan, drawing herself up a little stiffly, "what is that to me?" Unfortunately, Cephas had come upon the girl when she was talking with Eugenia Claiborne, who had sought her out at the Lumsden Place. Cephas looked at her hard a moment, and then his freckled face turned red. He was properly angry. "Well, whatever it may be to you, it's a heap to me," he said. "I hope it's nothing to you." "Cephas, will you see Paul Tomlin?" asked Eugenia. "If you do, tell him that one of his friends sent him her love." "Is it sure enough love?" inquired Cephas. "Yes, Cephas, it is," replied Eugenia simply and seriously--but her face was very red. "Tell him that Eugenia Claiborne sent him her love." "All right," said Cephas, and turned away without looking at Nan. She had hurt his feelings. This turn of affairs didn't suit Nan at all. She ran after Cephas, and caught him by the arm. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Cephas, to treat me so? How could I tell you anything before others? If you see Gabriel, tell him--oh, I don't know what to say. If I was to tell you what I want to, you'd say that Nan Dorrington had lost her mind. No, I'll not send any word, Cephas. It wouldn't be proper in a young lady. If he asks about me, just tell him that I am well and happy."