"I haven't known of anybody's being frozen."
"But why don't you have a fire?" I persisted. "If you don't want to build it, there are boys enough that can be hired."
"How is your mother to-day?" was the only answer the deacon vouchsafed.
"She's very comfortable, thank you. Why don't you have a fire?"
"Makes folks sleepy," he declared; and once more switched off abruptly to another subject. "Did you know Tom Webbe's gone off?"
"Yes."
"Where's he gone?"
"I don't know. Why should I?"
"If you don't know," Deacon Daniel commented, "I suppose nobody does."
"Why don't you have a fire in the vestry?" I demanded, determined to tire him out.