The same instant, Dan recognized the man in the buggy. With the recognition all the brightness went out of his face--as a cloud, all the sadness returned. "Doctor," Dan said, slipping down from the fence as he spoke, "excuse me a minute. I must speak to that man." The Doctor kept his place on the fence, while Dan stepped into the road. The team, when they had left the ford, stopped as they reached him. "How do you do, Doctor?" called the man in the buggy in a loud voice; then to Dan, "Well, sir, what do you want now?" Dan stood near the horses' heads, his eyes fixed on their driver, and the Judge, seeing the sorrow in his face, misunderstood, as always. "Judge Strong," said Dan. "You are the only man in the world with whom I am not at peace. I cannot be content to leave Corinth, sir, with anything between us." The crafty Judge thought he understood. He took Dan's words, with his manner, as an acknowledgment of defeat; an act of submission. The Elder had not believed that the young man had really wished to leave the ministry. He was quite sure now that the preacher, recognizing at last the power that had thrust him from his position and place in the church, wished to sue for peace, that the same power might help him to another position. So this big upstart was tamed at last, was he? The Doctor, sitting on the fence and hearing every low-spoken word, held a different view of the situation. "Well," said the Judge haughtily. Dan hesitated. "I--I wished to ask a favor, sir; one that I feel sure a Christian could not refuse." Now the Judge was confident of his position and power. He grew still more dignified and looked at Dan with the eye of a master. "Well, out with it. It is growing late and I must be going." "You will remember, sir, that the last time I called on you in your home, you made certain grave charges against three women who are my friends." "I repeated only the common--" "Wait, please," interrupted Dan. "This is a matter between you and me. I understand that you were angry and spoke hastily. Won't you please retract those words now?" Dan's voice was almost pleading in its sad slowness; his eyes were on the Judge with an anxious, appealing look. Disappointed at the request so different from that which he had expected, the Judge angrily answered, "Stand out of my way; I have no time for this, sir!" But quietly, carelessly it seemed, Dan laid one hand on the back of the nearest horse, almost touching the rein, and moved a step or two closer to the buggy. "Sir, I am sure you do not understand. Miss Farwell and I--I had hoped to make her my wife. We--we parted because of the church." The Doctor on the fence felt a lump in his throat at the pain in the boy's voice. Dan continued, "I am telling you, sir, so that you will understand. Surely you cannot refuse to take back your words under the circumstances."