"Has he any particular reason for
wishing to break his neck?"

"Did he do that?"

"Break his neck?--why no, not yet,--I suppose the doctor lives in
hopes. You take it coolly, Miss Faith! upon my word."

"Mr. Stoutenburgh!--I meant, did he leave the horse for him. Dr.
Harrison knew there wasn't much danger, Mr. Stoutenburgh."

Mr. Stoutenburgh touched up his own team.

"I guess!"--he said slowly, "the doctor don't just know how much danger
there is. So Pattaquasset 'll have a chance to come down on both
feet--which that horse don't do often. We've had all sorts of goings
on, Miss Faith."

"Have you, sir?" The question was put quietly enough, but there was a
little tinge of curiosity, too.

"Yes," said the Squire, shaking his whip. "Sam Deacon's gone away and
Mr. Linden's grown unpopular. Aint that news?"

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Why Sam Deacon's gone away--" the Squire repeated coolly. "He was
getting rather too much of a sportin' character for our town, so a
friend of mine that was going to Egypt--or somewhere--took him along.
You needn't be uneasy about him--Miss Faith, he'll be taken care of. I
should have sent him a worse journey, only I was overruled."

"And is he gone to Egypt?" said Faith.

"Hardly got so far yet," said the Squire. "But I thought it would be
good for Sam's health--he's been a little weaker than usual about the
head lately."

"That was only half of your news, Mr. Stoutenburgh," Faith said after
another interval of musing.

"'Tother half's nothing wonderful. Mr. Linden's getting unpopular with
everybody in town that he don't make up to on the right side; and as
there's a good many of them, I'm afraid it'll spread. I've done _my_
best to tell him how to quiet the matter, but you might just as well
tell a pepperidge which way to grow! Did you ever try to make him do
anything?" said the Squire, facing round upon Faith.

The startling of Faith's eyes was like a flash; and something so her
colour went and came. The answer was a very orderly, "Yes, sir."

"Hum--I s'pose he did it,--guess I'll come to you next time I want
anything done. Are you cold, my dear?" said the Squire renewing his
efforts at wrapping up.

Faith's desire for Pattaquasset news was satisfied. She manifested no
more curiosity about anything; and so far as appeared in words, was
contented with her own thoughts. That however would have been a rash
conclusion. For thoughts do occupy that do not content; and Faith