Layton was not altogether without the suspicion that Mr. Heron was trying to play upon his fears, and this was exactly the sort of outrage that a mind like his would least tolerate. It was, to be sure, a wild, out-of-the-world kind of place; the people were a rough, semi-civilized- looking set; public opinion in such a spot _might_ take a rude form; what they deemed unequal to their expectations, they _might_ construe as a fraud upon their pockets; and if so, and that their judgment should take the form he hinted at--Still, he was reluctant to accept this version of the case, and stood deeply pondering what line to adopt. “You don't like it, stranger; now that's a fact,” said Heron, as he scanned his features. “You 've been a-thinkin', 'Oh, any rubbish I like will be good enough for these bark-cutters. What should such fellows know, except about their corn crops and their saw-mills? _I_ needn't trouble my head about what I talk to 'em.' But now, you see, it ain't so; you begin to perceive that Jonathan, with his sleeves rolled up for work, is a smart man, who keeps his brains oiled and his thoughts polished, like one of Platt's engines, and it won't do to ask him to make French rolls out of sawdust!” Layton was still silent, partly employed in reviewing the difficulty of his position, but even more, perhaps, from chagrin at the tone of impertinence addressed to him. “Yes, sir,” said Heron, continuing an imaginary dialogue with himself,-- “yes, sir; that's a mistake more than one of your countrymen has fallen into. As Mr. Clay said, it 's so hard for an Englishman not to think of us as colonists.” “I 've made up my mind,” said Layton, at last “I 'll not lecture.” “Won't you? Then all I can say is, Britisher, look out for a busy arternoon. I told you what our people was. I warned you that if they struck work an hour earlier to listen to a preacher, it would fare ill with him if he wanted the mill to turn without water.” “I repeat, I 'll not lecture, come what may of it,” said Layton, firmly. “Well, it ain't so very hard to guess what _will_ come of it,” replied the other. “This is all nonsense and folly, sir,” said Layton, angrily. “I have taken no man's money; I have deceived no one. Your people, when I shall have left this place, will be no worse than when I entered it.” “If that 's your platform, stranger, come out and defend it; we 'll have a meetin' called, and I promise you a fair hearin'.” “I have no account to render to any. I am not responsible for my conduct to one of you!” said Layton, angrily. “You're a-beggin' the whole question, stranger; so jest keep these arguments for the meetin'.” “Meeting! I will attend no meeting! Whatever be your local ways and habits, you have no right to impose them upon a stranger. I am not one of you; I will not be one of you.” “That's more of the same sort of reasonin'; but you 'll be chastised, Britisher, see if you ain't!”