"Come in and see," rejoined Mrs. Nelson, and she led the way into the best room.
"Good-evening, sir," said Ralph, respectfully, but with no degree of warmth.
"We have been waiting for you, young man," said the squire, without returning the salutation.
"What is it you want of me?"
"He came about that post office affair," put in Mrs. Nelson. "He declares that you are one of the guilty parties."
Instantly Ralph's eyes flashed dangerously. He felt under no obligations to the squire, rich as he was, to swallow any insult.
"So you think I am guilty?" he said, as calmly as he could.
"Yes, I do," returned the great man, bluntly.
"What makes you think so?"
"Because you were around the post office," said Mrs. Nelson. "He even insinuates that my sickness was not real, but was put on so that you might have an excuse for being out at that time of night."