"I don't say nothing against him," said Squire Deacon,--"except he's a fine man. Maybe you think that is." "Is there anything further you would like to say on any subject, sir?" "Not much, I guess, if _that's_ the time o' day," said Squire Deacon looking at him with a queer little bit of a smile. "'Taint useful to get stirred up that way, doctor, just because a man wishes you a good journey. But I can just as easy wish you another overturn--I s'pose you're pretty sure to get one or t'other out o' the horses. It's all one to me--and I dare say it is to everybody else." "What is your name, sir?" said the doctor standing and looking at him in a sort of mazed consideration. "My name's Sam Deacon,"--said the Squire with his peculiar sort of sullen composure. "Your father and I've always been friends, anyhow." "Then Mr. Deacon will you have the goodness to under stand that I am not an agent for the transaction of Mr. Linden's affairs; but as I am a friend of his, I will inform him that you are interested in the subject. That is all, sir?" "I'll go bail for the first part of that!" said Squire Deacon. "But it's your affairs I'm talkin' of--not his'n. And I s'pose I've as good a right as all the rest of Pattaquasset--and give no offence, neither. I was goin' to make you my compliments, doctor--that's all; and if you don't think you'll ever want 'em, why there's no harm done--and enough said. All I want to know is, what do you get so stirred up for?" "Is that all?" said the doctor, as if he had a mind to know the whole before giving an answer. "All what?" said Squire Deacon. "All that you wish to communicate?" "I haven't communicated anything yet," said the Squire. "I guess you knew all that before." "Well," said the doctor, half laughing, though his expression had changed more than once during the last five minutes,--"then my answer is easy. In the first place, Mr. Deacon, I have no affairs--therefore it is impossible to talk about them. In the second place, when I am in want of your compliments I will send you mine. In the third place,--I declare I am at a loss how to answer you; for the only thing I ever get stirred up for, is my breakfast! Good afternoon!--" Staying no more civilities, the doctor made the best of his way to Mrs. Derrick's. Faith was ready for him, and more gently with her he set out on the road back again. It was not a time of day to meet people--one familiar face however they did meet,--Squire Deacon. His eye did not seek Faith's face, but rested on the doctor with full effect.