"Did he ask you, or did you ask him to go for a walk, Orphan Dinah?" he inquired.
"I asked him. I asked him a long time back and he wouldn't go, because he reckoned Johnny wouldn't like it. But I wanted to see the stone, and I wanted to hear Mr. Maynard talk, because he's a very sensible chap and has said several things that did me good. And so I asked him again, and he's got no objection—not now."
"He's a very sensible man as you say," declared Joe, "a more sensible man for his years I haven't met. In fact he's old for his years—for various reasons."
"Would you have any objection, Cousin Joe?" asked Dinah.
He considered.
"No," he decided. "I wish John could have been of the party, I'm sure; but since that's off for all time, then there's nothing wrong in your taking a walk with Maynard. Nor would there be any harm in any case. I know all about Maynard. He's all right; and, of course, if you asked him to go for a walk, Dinah, he couldn't very well refuse to do so."
"He's a very seeing man," said Dinah, "and he thinks a lot of you, Cousin Joe."
"And why not?"
"He might marry himself," said Susan.
"He's not the sort to hurry it," answered the girl. "He don't care for women overmuch seemingly."