“He just told me what to do.”
“Has he been studying any at night?” abruptly asked Mr. Borden.
“Every night,” replied Walter promptly.
“I’ll go over to his farm with you to-morrow morning.”
“Dan said he might come over here to-night.”
“That is all right,” said Mr. Borden quietly.
An hour later when the entire family was seated on the piazza Dan appeared. He was quiet, almost shy in his bearing, and as he accepted Mrs. Borden’s invitation to a seat with the family he found himself sitting between Walter and his father. Mr. Borden took little part in the conversation, but Walter was positive that his father was quietly observing his friend and consequently was eager to have him make a good impression. But Dan too was unusually silent even for him and Walter was compelled to do most of the talking, though it cannot be said that the task, for him, was a difficult one.
At last Mr. Borden inquired, “Dan, how many acres are in your farm?”
“Fifty-one, sir,” replied Dan.