"No," he said, "I will not."
I was still sitting in the buckboard and I just leaned forward and took the check from his hand. He was so taken by surprise that he was silent for a second; then he said:—
"I'll go down and measure the distance for you, Miss Patience."
"When?"
"To-night, right now. I'll get my buggy en you kin go right on and I'll follow you."
I was truly thankful, for it was getting very late and I was so afraid that Mr. Stout would not wait. I drove rapidly toward the gate, which is approached by a causeway. When I got well on that, a thought struck me; though it would be a singular trial to me, to save time I would offer to take Mr. H. down in my buckboard. I saw a negro woman near and said to her:—
"Please run in and say to Mr. Haman that Mrs. Pennington will be glad to offer him a seat in her buckboard and he can come back with Mr. Stout."
She ran off briskly and in a few minutes returned and said, "Mr. Haman say never min'; say him ain't goin'."
Fortunately I had taught Ruth to back all over the yard before a harness was ever put on her, for I backed her the length of that causeway in no time and was back at the house. Mr. Haman came out looking considerably worried.
"Mr. Haman, you will not get rid of me to-night until you have signed that release."