To his great satisfaction he saw Valentine Burns, who had come to escort an aunt to the cars.
"Where did you drop from, Andy?" he asked, in surprise.
"From the city. I am going to stop over Sunday."
"Good! I am delighted to see you."
"And I to see you. You are my dearest friend—except Conrad."
Valentine smiled.
"Of course no one is so near to me as he. Well, what's the news?"
"The only news I know of comes from Conrad. I hope it isn't true."
"What did he say?"
"That your father couldn't pay the interest on the mortgage held by his father, and was going to be turned out, though the squire might take your two best cows and call it even."