"Why were you gone so long, deacon?" asked Mrs. Hopkins. "Couldn't you wake him up?"
"He wasn't there."
"Wasn't where?"
"In bed."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that Sam's got up already. I couldn't find him."
"Couldn't find him?"
"No, Martha."
"Had the bed been slept in?"
"Of course. I s'pose he was sick, and couldn't sleep, so he went downstairs."