“Mr. Ainsworth is a friend. I would not mind working for him if there was any need of it; but nothing would induce me to work for the deacon.”
“But how can you be in the employ of Mr. Saunders while you are here?”
“I am under pay all the time, father. I cannot be with you long. I must be in New York in four days, to attend to some business there, and soon after shall be obliged to start again on a long journey.”
“It seems strange, Guy, to think of you as in the employ of a man thousands of miles away. Are your prospects good?”
“Excellent, father. And now tell me about yourself. Has Deacon Crane been making trouble for you in the parish?”
“Yes, Guy. He tried to stir up opposition to me in favor of a younger man, but he found very few to join him. My good parishioners stood by me.
“Good for them! As for the deacon, he is a mean, malicious, double-faced man!”
“We must not speak ill of others, Guy.”
“He deserves it, if anyone does! But you spoke of anxieties. To what do you refer?”
“To a very great one, Guy. You did not perhaps know that this house was mortgaged?”