"Deacon! Deacon! none o' that——"
"But see here, I mean the ladies are attractive, and——"
"Yes, I understand—one talks Darwin and wears glasses, and the other is a blonde."
"Exactly—where did you become acquainted with them? I had thought to introduce you."
I was compelled to set the Deacon right and inform him of my last winter's trip. Then I declined his offer of an introduction. He seemed a little nettled at my indifference, and thereupon I pleaded old age in extenuation of my lack of gallantry.
"But, Deacon, how long have you been acquainted with these ladies; and who are they?"
"Oh, several months—the train is coming, let us go in to dinner."
I conjectured that there was a sensitive spot in the Deacon's anatomy, and I had unconsciously touched it with a rude hand. To apologize further at present might provoke embarrassment, and yet I feared something more was demanded of me. He came to my relief by taking a seat at the same table with the parties in question, leaving me in company with the Major, who had arrived on the train.
"Where is the Deacon?" was the Major's first inquiry. I motioned in the direction.
"Whom have we there?" I could give him no information, of course, and we discussed our dinner with the prospects which Twin Lakes might afford.