"I am pretty sure he is," answered James. "Come in with me, and I'll see."
The deacon smiled—an inscrutable smile—and followed James, who opened the front door and led him into the parlor.
"You're very obligin'," he said. "I had no idea you was so polite."
"It is the duty of a gentleman to be polite!" said James loftily.
"So 'tis, so 'tis!" returned the old man chuckling in an unaccountable manner. "I'm glad you think so. It's a great thing to be a boy, I had lots of fun when I was a boy. So do you, hey?"
"Oh yes," answered James indifferently. "But not as much as I could have in the city."
"But you couldn't go huntin' and fishin' in the city," said the deacon slyly.
James' heart gave a bound. What did the disagreeable old man mean? was it possible that he suspected?
"I don't care much for either," he said. "But I'll go and call father."
Presently the squire appeared and invited Deacon Miller into the back room, which was used as the family dining and sitting-room.