The Doctor could see Dan's face by the light from the open window. He fancied it wore a look of amused understanding.
"No," answered the minister, "I spent yesterday in the city."
"Ahem—ahem," coughed the Elder. "Found an acquaintance on the train coming up, didn't you? We noticed you talking to a young woman at the car window."
Dan paused a moment before answering, and the Doctor could feel the interest of the company. Then the boy said, dryly, "Yes, I may say though, that she is something more than an acquaintance."
Smothered exclamations from the women. "Ah hah," from the Elder. The
Doctor grinned to himself in the dark. "The young scamp!"
"Ahem! She had a pretty face, we noticed; are you—that is, have you known her long?"
"Several years, sir; the lady you saw is my mother. I went with her to the city day before yesterday, where she wished to do some shopping, and accompanied her on her way home as far as Corinth."
More exclamations from the women.
"Why, Doctor, you never told us it was his mother," cried Martha, and Nathaniel turned toward the end of the porch with a look of righteous indignation.
"You never asked me," chuckled the Doctor.