"I heard it was over in Germany she run across him," said David.
"I believe that is so, but he isn't a German. He is from Philadelphia, and is a friend of the Bradways."
"What kind of a feller is he? Good enough for her?"
"Well," said John, smiling, "in the sense in which that question is usually taken, I should say yes. He has good looks, good manners, a good deal of money, I am told, and it is said that Miss Clara—which is the main point, after all—is very much in love with him."
"H'm," said David after a moment. "How do you git along with the Verjoos girls? Was Claricy's ears pointed all right when you seen her fust after she come home?"
"Oh, yes!" replied John, smiling, "she and her sister were perfectly pleasant and cordial, and Miss Verjoos and I are on very friendly terms."
"I was thinkin'," said David, "that you an' Claricy might be got to likin' each other, an' mebbe—"
"I don't think there could ever have been the smallest chance of it," declared John hastily.
"Take the lines a minute," said David, handing them to his companion after stopping the horses. "The nigh one's picked up a stone, I guess," and he got out to investigate. "The river road," he remarked as he climbed back into the buggy after removing the stone from the horse's foot, "is about the puttiest road 'round here, but I don't drive it oftener jest on account of them dum'd loose stuns." He sucked the air through his pursed-up lips, producing a little squeaking sound, and the horses started forward. Presently he turned to John:
"Did you ever think of gettin' married?" he asked.