"I don't know," said John.
"I was talkin' with Doc Hayes about ye," said David, "an' he allowed you'd ought to have your shoes off an' run loose a spell."
John smiled a little, but did not reply.
"Spoke to you about it, didn't he?" continued David.
"Yes."
"An' you told him you couldn't git away?"
"Yes."
"Didn't tell him you wouldn't go if you could, did ye?"
"I only told him I couldn't go," said John.
David sat for a moment thoughtfully tapping the desk with his eyeglasses, and then said with his characteristic chuckle: