“That’s right, Peter. I’d forgot.”
“Why not?” Wint repeated impatiently; he glanced again toward the two across the street.
“Why, he means Miss Joan wouldn’t like it,” the Congressman explained.
“Why wouldn’t she?”
Gergue pointed across the street. “She’d soon teach you manners,” he chuckled. “The Congressman here’s got a nice-looking daughter of his own, you know.”
Wint’s hand clenched at his side. “You’re all wrong there,” he said curtly; and then to Amos: “I think I’ll accept your invitation, after all,” he said.
CHAPTER IV
INTERLUDE
THE weeks between his election and his inauguration Wint spent as a guest at Amos Caretall’s home. At which the townsfolk put their tongues in their cheeks and smiled behind the back of the elder Chase. This open alliance between Wint and the Congressman was taken as confession that Wint’s election had been planned between them; and after a day or two Wint perceived the hopelessness of denial, and perceived, too, that those who believed him concerned in the trick respected him the more for it. Therefore, Wint ceased to deny; and it was one of Amos Caretall’s rules never to discuss a thing accomplished.
Between Amos and the young man, a strong friendship began to develop in these weeks. Congressman Caretall was a good politician, largely through the advice and counsel of Peter Gergue; but he was also a man of level head and good common sense, and he found beneath Wint’s pride and stubbornness a surprising store of good qualities. A week after Wint went to live at his house, he said as much to Gergue.
“He’s a fine boy, Peter,” he declared. “Looks to me like a colt that hadn’t been gentled right.”