o matter
what their differences of opinion with respect to church and minister,
they themselves would live in neighborly harmony. But what neither
minister nor religious difference could effect was presently brought
about by the schoolmaster.

Abner, knowing the long friendship between Gilcrest and Rogers, and not
wishing to be the means of causing a rupture, for some time told his
kind host nothing of Gilcrest's altered demeanor toward himself. But
after the encounter at the stile-block he informed Rogers of his
engagement to Betsy and of her father's opposition and bitter enmity.
Rogers accordingly went to Oaklands.

Several days had elapsed since Abner had been so grossly insulted.
Gilcrest had had time for reflection and for realizing that he had said
many things in that stormy interview which good feeling and prudence
should have forbidden. He was at heart a gentleman, and since his
passion had cooled he bitterly reproached himself for his brutal taunt
in regard to Abner's probable illegitimacy; for Gilcrest was sure the
poor boy was entirely ignorant on this point. Gilcrest also acquitted
him of being knowingly a party to any fraud in claiming to be heir to
the Hite estate. The Major likewise reproached himself for lack of
caution; for until he and Drane had made full investigation into Mary
Page's history, it behooved them to be absolutely silent concerning
Mrs. Gilcrest's claim. Moreover, it was essential that for the present
his suspicions of Abner's connection with political plots should not be
revealed. So now that Mason Rogers was here, eager to set matters right
between Betsy's father and her lover, Gilcrest was in a quandary. He
refused to give his reasons for opposing Abner's suit; but he hinted
darkly of nefarious schemes and dangerous, even treasonable, plots in
which the young man was implicated.

"I nevah hearn tell uv sich an outrageous thing in my borned days,"
exclaimed Rogers, "I thought too high uv you, Hiram, to believe you'd
listen to whispers an' insinerations ag'in sich a man as Abner."

"But, Mason, I tell you I have not heeded mere whispers and
insinuations; I have clear proof, proof, man, for what I hold against
this schoolmaster."

"Then, fur the sake uv common jestice, out with yer proofs!"

"I can not, Mason; I am pledged to silence; moreover, it would be
dangerous to the peace of the commonwealth, and frustrate the ends of
justice, to reveal anything now. I had intended to let n